One recurring theme in our frequent review of the cycling blogosphere is the amount of artwork created of, with, and about the bicycle. So about a year ago, we started a little online side project called The Bicycle is Art. Sadly, the project didn’t get much traction simply because it became too much of a task to search, write, and update the blog. In the daily triage that is small business, it fell by the wayside.

However, we didn’t give up.

Lately we’ve been playing with Tumblr, a simple online blogging platform perfect for re-blogging online photos, videos, and articles. Tumblr is easy to use and oriented towards simple aesthetics – exactly what we were looking for.

Hence, we are pleased to announce the rebirth of The Bicycle is Art:

The new format is simple, elegant, and easy to quickly peruse. And on the backend, we have created some clever (if we do say so ourselves) search tools to scour the Web for the latest bicycle related photography, film, sculpture, and events. Better yet, the new site has a user friendly Submit function that allows anyone to suggest links, videos, or happenings; just select a format (photo, video, link, etc.), type a title, and maybe add a few words.

As you might guess, The Bicycle is Art takes advantage of social media. Along with the website, there is a Twitter component and an RSS feed. Any questions or comments can be directed to thebicycleisart@gmail.com

All-in-all, we are pretty pleased. We hope you like it too.
http://theBicycleisArt.com →

For quite a while now, we’ve been dreaming and scheming a design for our own “house” brand. We are not exactly sure where this is eventually lead (it may just die a quite death) but we thought it worthwhile enough to share:

If you take a look at the bikes we sell, you will conclude two things about our preferences:

1. A proclivity for classic lugged steel, traditional sized tubing, and “balanced” proportions.
2. Bikes with versatility are good.  Wide tires, fenders, racks, etc. are a positive things for non-competitive riders.

So naturally, these design elements are reflected in our little sketchbook:

And yes, these are a rough draft of the same bike.  We envision a do-all style cyclocross bike that can “Race on Sunday, Commute on Monday.”

But the other thing that cannot be conveyed in these unpolished drafts is the way we would like to go about building the bike.  In fact, anyone can produce concept drawings like these via BikeCAD (and please don’t hold us to any of the details, these are simply drafts), but what separates this bike from other worthwhile offerings is:

• High quality lugged steel — something of the Reynolds 853 or Columbus variety.
• A line of standard frame sizes. Custom options available upon request.
• Pricing that falls in the $1250 – $1500 range for frame + fork.
• Made right here in the U.S. of A. by a handful of selected craftsman.
• Reasonable production turn-around times. Ideally a month or less.

Basically, we are thinking of offering a sub $1500, standard frame sized, lugged steel, made in America ‘cross bike that can be used for commuting and light touring.  And although that sounds like somewhat of a stretch, no one (and let us know if we’re wrong) is doing it right now.  As per usual Renaissance Bicycles is looking to fill a niche in the Market.

But regardless of our day-dreaming, the real question is: Do you think people will be interested?

As many of you don’t remember (or don’t care), the benevolent dictator of Renaissance Bicycles had an ambitious goal at the beginning of the year — to ride 5200 miles.  100 miles a week seemed like a simple and straight-forward enough. At the beginning of the year, Bryan wrote:

“I’ve ridden that kinda miles in the course of a year, so in the big picture, 100 miles a week is a very reasonable goal.  Heck, I can ride a 100 miles in a day (well … I have ridden a 100 miles in a day).  But the real challenge in this challenge is to accumulate the miles.  An average of 14.25 miles a day works out to be about a one hour casual road ride each day.  Easy enough … but what about those days when riding is just not really an option?  And those couple of days in a row when travel / work / family / illness demand my attention?  And what about when I have “one of those weeks”?  Do I just go out and suffer to “make up the miles”?  Hardly.”

With three quarters of the year gone by, Bryan now says:

“Well … it seems that this goal has hit a slight snag.  Not an issue that was wholly unexpected, but one that is both a responsibility and a blessing:

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Once again, Renaissance Bicycles is helping prepare the local cyclocrossers for the upcoming season. For the third year, we will host / participate in a three race training series in Fletcher Park. Here are the details that you need to know:

• USAC Sanctioned Non-Competitive Training Series. No awards, prizes, or points … just the self-satisfaction of riding fast.
• September 8th, September 22nd, and October 6th all at Fletcher Park in Fletcher, NC
• Two “Races”:
  • @6pm for 30 minute duration — CX4, CX 3-4 Women, Juniors
  • @6:50pm for 45 minute duration – CX1-3, Masters, CX1-2 Women
  • Registration opens @5pm, closes 15 minutes prior to Race
• $10 Entry Fee with USAC license — One day USAC permits are $5 for non-licensed riders.
• Helmets required, hecklers likely.
• First time riders welcome. Basic instruction available prior to 6PM race.
• All bicycle types are welcome, but please no bar ends.
• And remember: Wednesday Will Bury You.

Final Race Series Results

WNCX Race #1 — 9/8/10 →
WNCX Race #2 — 9/22/10 →
WNCX Race #3 — 10/06/10 →

General Information

Map and Directions to Fletcher Park →
85 Howard Gap Road, Fletcher, NC 28732

Download WNCX Flyer and spread the word! →

Contacts:

• General questions and comments can be directed to ned@millsriverpt.com
• Volunteer and sponsorship inquiries should be sent to info@renaissancebicycles.com

And of course we can’t forget to mention some of the people that make all of this possible:

• Fletcher Parks and Recreation
• Cane Creek Cycling Components
• Planet Bike
• Asheville Bicycle Racing Club
• USA Cycling — Cyclocross
  

In the spirit of bringing local cycling fans together, Renaissance Bicycles is helping to present the Tour de France Pot de Luck. For you acronimians, that is the TdFPdL.

For the next three Sundays, along with our friends at the Flat Rock Bakery, we will present an outdoor viewing of the 2010 Tour de France for everyone to enjoy. All you need to bring is a little food to share, your prefered beverage of choice, and your family and friends.

The festivities start at 7pm on the back deck of the Flat Rock Bakery. We will show Sunday’s (commerical free) stage and other selected highlights from the previous week of cycling.

And if all those words were too much, here is the quick summary:

• Pot de Luck featuring the Tour de France
• Next 3 Sundays —  July 11th, July 18th, July 25th
• Outside on the deck of the Flat Rock Bakery
• Festivities start at 7pm
• Bring some food and drink (the Bakery will not be open on July 11th)
• Family friendly event.

 Just send us an email at info@renaissancebicycles.com with any questions.

As you may or may not be aware, the always stylish ladies over at Let’s Go Ride a Bike are hosting their first annual Summer Games.  As you may or may not have guessed, we are happy to provide a Brooks B67S (in either of Black or Honey) to one of the lucky prize winners.

For this third round of the Games, there are a few simple “events” in which to partake:

• Ride a greenway (“nature” bike trail).
• Have a bicycle picnic.
• If you don’t normally ride to work, commute by bike, or by bike/train or bike/bus.
• If you do commute, take the long way home: add distance to your usual ride.
• Explore a new part of town by bike.

Easy enough right?  So … how do you take part and become eligible for one of the many swanky prizes?  From the Let’s Go Ride a Bike website…

Winners will be determined by random drawing on July 19. As always, email us your blog links or your stories and photos using the subject line “Summer Games Part III Entry” (and check out our Flickr group). Don’t forget that you must complete two events in each round to be eligible for the grand prize of a Batavus BUB. See our original post for complete details.

So basically, you do one of the events listed above and either (1) write blog post about it or (2) submit your story with a photo or two. And if you want a chance at the free Batavus BuB, do two of the events.

Obviously, the real purpose of the Summer Games is for you to go out and do something fun on your bike, to “process” the activity, and to share it with others. To us, this is what riding a bike is all about.

So why not give it a try?

One of the most unsung benefits of cycling (whether it be for transportation, recreation, or general wellness) is the noticeable boost it provides to your mental well-being. This feeling is akin to a cleared-headed meditative state … the same state of mental flow that is often described as a pleasurable feeling of awareness.

Yoga and meditation are two of the more subtle and sublime forms of restructuring the mind for creativity and relaxation, but the low impact exertion of cycling (especially at an “aware” speed) can help break the ongoing internal commentary that often hinders mental processes.

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Next time you are out for a routine ride, feeling bored with your daily commute, or just need a little extra spark … try something new:

• Ride a new route to an old route.
• Pedal with only one leg.
• Ride only in your biggest / smallest gear (if you have more than one).
• Count the number of dogs that don’t chase you.
• Ride with your eyes closed (but just for a second).
• Put your helmet on backwards and see if anyone notices.

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Yes, sometimes a bit of sarcasm is effective at humorously addressing some common misconceptions and well intentioned malpractices of the cycling flag-bearer.  This brief article (which we have transcribed in full) appears in the 42nd edition of the legendary Rivendell Reader:

How to Make the Rest of Your Family Hate Riding

• Coach them on proper technique and critique their performance so they know where they stand.
• Insist on proper saddle height even if they’re afraid of not being able to put their feet flat on the ground. tell them the truth—that pedaling with a too-low saddle will lead to chondromalacia.  That will motivate them with worry on top of their fear.

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As you may have read in our previous post, Like a Duck to Flickr … I Mean Water, we have wrapped our proverbial arms around Flickr. What makes bicycles and photography such a good match is that cycling is a form of self-expression … and there is no better way to “self express” on a bike than a Panda Portrait:

Here’s the brief description from the very popular Flickr Panda Portrait Group:
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