Cycles Lambert is one of the biggest distributors in the Canadian cycling world. Following a decision by Race Face to start selling to Mountain Equipment Co-op, Lambert has opted to remove Race Face from its product line-up. Official Cycles Lambert press release online at Pedal Magazine. More on the story at Bicycle Retailer and Industry News aka BRAIN.

A good friend had two bikes stolen from their garage last week. Unfortunately, they didn't have a record of the serial numbers of the bikes. If you own a bike, make sure you know its serial number. It will make the insurance process a bit easier, and will help you reclaim your bike if by slim chance it is recovered by police. You can usually find the serial number underneath the bottom bracket (the part of the frame holding the pedals, crank, and chainring).

You should also register your bike with the manufacturer if possible, or with a bike registry if there's one in your area. Here's some links. I make no warranty or guarantee regarding the recovery of your stolen bike by providing said links. If you know of the others not listed here, please email me and I'll be happy to add to the list. Got a stolen bike story with a happy ending, or advice on recovering a stolen bike? Please leave a comment and share your wisdom!

National Bike Registry (USA)
Bike Registry Canada
Brodie Bikes
stolenbikeregistry.com
BikeRegistry.com
Toronto Police Bike Registry
New Zealand Bike Registry
Nationwide Cycle Registration (UK)
bikeregister.com
Chicago Stolen Bike Registry
Edmonton Bicycle Commuters
Bowling Green KY bike registry
MSU Bikes
Rocky Mountain Bikes

Labels: bike recovery, bike registry, bike serial number, bike theft, stolen bikes

From the New York Times:

“People are questioning car purchases more than we’ve ever seen in recent history."

http://tinyurl.com/yly2poe

Oct. 15, 2009 – One week from now, endurance athletes Greg Kolodziejzyk of Calgary and Jordan Hanssen of Seattle, WA will attempt a nautical circumnavigation of Vancouver Island, piloting the custom-designed, pedal-powered boat Within on its first long-distance ocean voyage. Greg and Jordan will launch Within on Friday, Oct. 23 from Comox, BC and will travel clockwise around the Island. If successful, this voyage will be the first-ever circumnavigation of the Island in a pedal-powered boat.

The journey is expected to take approximately two weeks to three weeks, depending on weather and ocean conditions. British kayaker Sean Morley holds the current record for a human-powered trip around the island, completing a counter-clockwise paddling trip in 17 days, 4 hours, and 49 minutes in September 2008.

Greg has previously set 2 human-powered records (land and water) for the longest distance traveled in 24 hours. Hanssen was captain of the American team who won the trans-Atlantic Ocean Fours rowing race in 2006 and has also cycled coast-to-coast in Australia – from Perth to Sydney. Kolodziejzyk’s reason for this arduous journey isn’t about entering the record books however.

“My objective is to demonstrate the amazing things a human being can do under his or her own power. I hope to motivate and inspire more people to explore their own human-powered potential. It's good for the environment, it's essential for our health, and sends the right message regarding physical activity to our children.”

Hanssen says they’ll be expecting the unexpected, “I think Vancouver Island is a complex coastline with complex water. I feel confident, but there are definitely a lot of things we will learn. As I was once told by a veteran sailor, it’s all about how you recover from your first big mistake!”

The attempt is the duo’s first chance to test the boat in ocean conditions and an opportunity to prepare for an even more ambitious journey. Called Pedal The Ocean, Kolodziejzyk will attempt a solo Pacific crossing from Victoria to Hawaii, currently planned for June 2010.





Greg Kolodziejzyk is a successful entrepreneur who informally retired from the business world when he was in his mid-30s – to focus on improving his health and meeting new challenges. He started by signing up to compete in a triathlon. After losing 50 pounds racing and training, he went on to complete 12 Ironman distance triathlons, with a 4th place finish in his division at Ironman Arizona in 2006 earning him a coveted slot to compete at the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii. Greg has also completed a dozen marathons and 2 ultra-marathons. He is currently training to complete his first 100-mile ultra-marathon.

No person in history has traveled further under his own power in one day, on land or water than Greg. In July of 2006, Greg earned his first world record by pedaling his human powered vehicle called Critical Power 647 miles (1041 km) in one day around a race track in Eureka, California. In September of 2008, he did it again, but this time on water when he pedalled his human powered boat Critical Power Two 152.3 miles (245.16 km) in 24 hours around a circular lake course in Whitefish, Montana earning him his second world record. Greg has been featured in the Guinness Book of World Records, Men's Journal magazine, Popular Science magazine, and on the Discovery Channel.

Greg's state-of-the-art human powered boat was designed by award winning naval architect Stuart Bloomfield and human-powered boat engineer Rick Willoughby. WiTHiN is 30 feet long by 3 feet wide, weighs 455 lbs, and features a water-tight sleeping cabin, cockpit, and storage compartment. WiTHiN will carry enough dehydrated food for 100 days at sea. Fresh water will be supplied via electric desalination plant powered by solar panels. Greg's safety equipment includes a GPS, Satellite phone, survival suit, emergency life raft, and emergency beacons.

Labels: pedal power, Vancouver Island, world records

Paris has long been known as the City of Light. But increasingly, it's becoming the City of Bikes. The famous French city was at the forefront of the public bike movement with its successful and much-emulated velib program. Now, a subsidy for e-scooters has been extended to e-bikes as part of the city's strategy to promote cycling for transportation. Parisians can get up to € 400 from the Paris Council when they buy an e-bike. And, unlike some of the North American cash-for-clunkers programs which quickly blew through their budgets, this French initiative currently has no end date or limit on how much will be spent for the program.

Labels: cash-for-clunkers, cycling, cycling subsidies, e-bikes, Paris, velib

Dow Chemicals has come up with an easy-to-install solar-power-generating shingle utilizing thin film solar cells. The shingles are intended to replace typical asphalt shingles and are installed (with nails) in the same way. According to a company spokesman from Dow's Solar Solutions business unit the shingles will supply enough juice to meet 40 percent to 80 percent of a typical house's electrical  needs.

Full New York Times business story here.

Labels: Dow Chemicals, Global Solar, home construction, shingles, solar power

Joint News Release - Renault-Nissan Alliance Signs Zero-Emission Partnership in Vancouver

Vancouver, BC (Oct. 6, 2009) - The Renault-Nissan Alliance, the Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver and BC Hydro announced today a partnership that will see British Columbia become the initial launch point for Nissan's Canadian zero-emission transportation program.

British Columbia is scheduled to be the first Canadian province to receive the Nissan LEAF, Nissan's first all-electric real-world car, in 2011, in advance of global distribution in 2012.

"Agreements like this one with the Renault-Nissan Alliance are an important step in making climate-friendly transportation a lifestyle choice for all British Columbians," said Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Province of British Columbia. "Electric vehicles, fuelled by clean, renewable energy resources, will help us achieve a low carbon transportation future."

The memorandum of understanding brings together representatives from each organization to identify opportunities to promote the use of zero-emission vehicles in Vancouver and other areas in B.C. Discussions will also explore the establishment of charging infrastructure in Vancouver.

"Today is an exciting day for Nissan Canada as we announce an important step in making electric vehicles a reality in the Canadian market," said Mark Grimm, President of Nissan Canada Inc. "We have the technology for zero-emission mobility without compromise and working with important partners like those signing this agreement is a critical step in this evolution."

"Moving towards a zero-emission mobility program gets Vancouver closer to our goal of becoming the world's greenest city," said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson. "We've moved very aggressively to bring in electric vehicle charging infrastructure regulations for Vancouver that are a first for North America. The City will need electric vehicles to charge on that new infrastructure. We are very pleased to be the first Canadian municipal partner of Nissan, a global leader in electric-vehicle technologies."

The agreement also supports an application to the federal government's Clean Energy Fund for a charging infrastructure pilot program planned by the Province, BC Hydro and the City of Vancouver.

"We continue to work with industry and government partners to ensure British Columbia is ready for the introduction of electric vehicles," said Bob Elton, President and CEO of BC Hydro. "We are building a conservation culture in B.C. which includes not only the efficient use of electricity but also the protection of air quality."

The agreement adds B.C. to a growing network of zero-emission vehicle initiatives across the world. The Renault-Nissan Alliance has formed partnerships with 30 governments, cities and other organizations to advance the deployment of electric vehicles worldwide.




For more information, visit:
www.energyplan.gov.bc.ca
www.bchydro.com
www.nissan.ca
www.climateactionsecretariat.gov.bc.ca
www.vancouver.ca

Images of LEAF can be found at www.media.nissan.ca

Labels: zero emissions british columbia electric car news

MONTREAL, Oct. 6 - Dorel Industries Inc. announced it will move Sugoi to a new 70,000 square foot facility in Metro Vancouver by January 2010. The Vancouver clothing maker also becomes a part of Dorel's new Apparel Footwear Group (AFG) joining Cannondale, GT, Schwinn, Iron Horse, and Mongoose in the AFG.


The group is planning a focus on the custom apparel business and developing specific riding and running uniforms for teams and clubs. The new Vancouver facility will allow SUGOI to increase its custom apparel capacity and offer lead times above industry standards.


"We've barely scratched the surface in this expanding market and expect SUGOI to triple its custom apparel business within five years," stated Robert P. Baird, President of Dorel's Recreational/Leisure segment.


Chris Fuentes, will be AFG's President. In his most recent position Chris led all brand marketing, communication and promotion of retail, wholesale and licensing worldwide for the $1 billion Nautica lifestyle brand with 40 product categories in 70 countries.


Sugoi was acquired by Dorel as part of its February 2008 purchase of Cannondale.



(TSX: DII.A, DII.B;)

Labels: bicycle business, canadian business, cycling clothing, dorel industries, employment, new projects, sugoi apparel