Graphene

(Image from Technology Review)

Yes, I do remember that I was making fun of carbon fiber addiction not too long ago, but this article is simply too good to pass up.

Technology Review has a piece about graphene, the building block upon which nanotubes and Bucky balls are based. Graphene is simply the strongest material ever tested.

How strong? I'll let them describe it:

Jeffrey Kysar and James Hone, mechanical-engineering professors at Columbia University, tested graphene's strength at the atomic level by measuring the force that it took to break it. They carved one-micrometer-wide holes into a silicon wafer, placed a perfect sample of graphene over each hole, and then indented the graphene with a sharp probe made of diamond. Such measurements had never been taken before because they must be performed on perfect samples of graphene, with no tears or missing atoms, say Kysar and Hone.

Hone compares his test to stretching a piece of plastic wrap over the top of a coffee cup, and measuring the force that it takes to puncture it with a pencil. If he could get a large enough piece of the material to lay over the top of a coffee cup, he says, graphene would be strong enough to support the weight of a car balanced atop the pencil.

Regular CycleDog readers will know where I'm going with this. Graphene would be an ideal material for a bicycle frame if the manufacturing difficulties could be overcome. The article details the usual failure mode for this advanced material. It will break due to imperfections, tiny flaws caused by missing atoms. Still, there was a time when carbon fiber was unimaginably expensive. If we're lucky and we live long enough, maybe we'll see aerospace and cycling applications for graphene.

(Found via Gizmodo)

Trail Etiquette: a primer

(Image copyright Spencer Hill. Used by permission.)

I was running along the trail and this cyclist came by really fast and close without any warning.

This is probably the most common complaint – fast riders in 'stealth' mode. Cyclists should use a bell or loudly announce “Passing on your left!” as they approach pedestrians. Unfortunately, if a cyclist yells “On your left!” some pedestrians will turn and step to their left to see what's behind them, moving directly into a cyclist's intended path. Be aware that pedestrians can change direction or stop in the space of a single step.

For pedestrians – walk on the right and be aware of overtaking cyclists.

I was walking my dog, Fluffy, on a 20 foot long leash. It one of those retractable ones so I can keep control of Fluffy, yet allow her to romp a bit. She was on the other side of the trail when some cyclists started swearing at me for letting her roam like that. They could slow down and wait until she's done.

Children and dogs are often unpredictable. Be especially cautious when approaching them. Be prepared to brake or dodge, if necessary. Think of it as an opportunity to hone your mad cyclocross skillz. And please resist the impulse to skewer wayward dogs or their owners with a frame pump, halberd, or samurai sword. It's just not very polite.

For dog-walkers – while Fluffy may be utterly adorable, a 20 foot leash stretched across a multi use path is not. If a cyclist hits it at speed, there's a very good chance that he will crash. There's also a good chance that Fluffy could be injured. Be responsible for your pet and show some consideration for other trail users by keeping your animal on a short leash while on the trail.

Some deaf and blind guy was walking along the trail using his white cane for guidance when a cyclist yelled at him. Didn't do any good, that I could see.

While this is an obvious exaggeration, there are some pedestrians who simply will not see or hear any cyclists around them. Never assume a walker has seen you or knows of your presence, even if you're approaching them from the front. With so many people listening to music via headphones, it's a near-certainty that you'll encounter someone completely oblivious to all those other people on the trail.

For cyclists – wearing headphones in traffic is dangerous and illegal. Being safe on the road entails using all your senses, and that's no less true on the trails. Do not wear headphones.

My wife and I were showing her mom and dad the lovely River Park trail. We walked side-by-side in order to talk to one another and we were in mid- conversation when some cyclist yelled, “On your left!” Well, we looked over to our left but there was nothing to see. He yelled again, then went off the trail into the grass to go around us. When he got back onto the pavement, he yelled something about getting your fat ass over. I don't know why he'd pick on my mother-in-law that way. Her ass isn't that fat.

“On your left” is the standard way of announcing you're about to overtake and pass another cyclist. Unfortunately, some pedestrians hear this and will step to the left and turn around to see who or what is behind them. They step directly into the path of a cyclist. As noted above, say “Passing on your left” as a better way to make your intent known.

A better alternative is to yell, “Passing!” Most, though not all, peds understand what this means. Some cyclists use a bell as a warning device, but bells are no longer required by Tulsa ordinances.

For pedestrians – use the trail sensibly. If you're walking in a group, allow some space to the left for others to pass. Taking the full width of the trail is rude and irresponsible.

My friends and I were skating on the trail, just bopping along and listening to some tunes on our iPods, when a bunch of cyclists passed us really close. They never said a word – not that we could have heard them anyway.

Passing skaters on a narrow trail is difficult. Their zig-zag course can make it hard to predict when it's safe to pass. Just like children, the elderly, dogs, or people with diminished mental capacity, skaters are capable of suddenly moving into the path of a cyclist and causing a crash. Be wary when approaching them.

For skaters – turn down the tunes so you can hear others around you, and be prepared to coast for a moment while a cyclist passes. It's both courteous and safe – for both of you.

I have a suggestion that may improve relations between cyclists and pedestrians on crowded trails. We need bigger pedestrians so there's no mismatch in energy. Kinetic energy is equal to the product of mass and velocity squared, so if a 200 lb bicycle and rider moving at 10 mph were to collide with a 550 pound pedestrian moving at 6 mph, they'll have approximately the same KE. The only problem I can see is in finding a 550 pound pedestrian capable of moving at 6 mph. Maybe if we could get two 225 pound pedestrians to move in lockstep...

Ah,a phalanx of pedestrians moving as a unit. Give them some brass instruments, drums, and snappy uniforms, and we'd have a marching band. Better yet, give them kilts and bag pipes. Nobody messes with guys in skirts playing the pipes.

OK, much of the above is facetious, but there are some serious points. Let's consider them:

(Added by Gary)

1. The most important consideration is: "ALL TRAIL USERS STAY TO THE RIGHT" Yep, pedestrians, bicyclists, roller bladers, strollers, dog walkers, all trail users stay the right. Yes this is different than the street where pedestrians walk against traffic and bicyclists, since they are traffic on a vehicle, go with traffic.


2. Whenever approaching other trail users move to a single file line.


3. On a trail, walk dogs to the right. Yes, this is different than dog training, but that is because when you walk a dog on the streets since you are on the left the traffic is on the right and you don't want little Fluffy running in front of a car. On a trail you walk on the right. You walk Fluffy on the right as well. You don't want Fluffy to run in front of a cyclists or a roller blader. Besides the land is on the right of the trail and Fluffy loves running along the ground.

Speed

Riding on trails is the same as riding on a sidewalk and on sidewalks cyclists must yield to pedestrians. Tulsa's River Park trails have a suggested speed limit of 10 mph. Any reasonably fit cyclist can exceed this, of course, so be courteous and safety minded when overtaking peds. Please be courteous, and stay particularly alert if there are children or pets nearby.

Awareness

For pedestrians - there's more to this than simply unplugging the iPod or turning off the cell phone. It's a basic safety issue whenever we're out in public. Be aware of your surroundings. Be alert for the unexpected. Be alert for suspicious people or objects. This isn't an attempt to make you paranoid, just wary. Criminals exploit people who aren't paying attention or are otherwise distracted. Likewise, in a traffic mix with people moving at different speeds, it pays to stay alert.

For cyclists – make others aware of your presence and intention of passing. Use a bell, or shout, “Passing on your left!” Just as pedestrians have to be aware of overtaking cyclists, cyclists themselves have to be aware of other bicyclists moving at higher speeds. Watch your six.

Consideration

Trails are shared public spaces that belong to all of us. Please don't leave trash behind. Treat other trail users as you would wish to be treated.

And finally...

Since I'm not all-wise and all-knowing, I probably missed a few things. Please feel free to point out my deficiencies in comments!

Interesting reading

The Myth of the Scofflaw Cyclist

(excerpt)

Whenever you read an article about cycling in the city, or a discussion of transportation involving cycling it is highly likely that you'll read a comment like this:

"I will 'share the road' when cyclists start 'obeying the traffic laws.'"

and this

"I always see bikers disobeying traffic signals. They always run red lights going across R Street and Connecticut Ave"

and this

Before encouraging people to cycle and spending millions of pounds of our money in the process, the Government should have down some groundwork to make roads safer for all of us. [WC: Sounds reasonable]

Making cyclists observe a few traffic laws - such as stopping at traffic lights and zebra crossings - would have been a welcome start.[WC: Really? You'd START with cyclists?]

In fact after Alice Swanson's death, many comments on the post, DCist and elsewhere mentioned that something like this was bound to happen because of the illegal manner in which most cyclists ride. Despite the fact that there seems to be no indication that she did anything illegal.

A CycleDog Interview...

(Macro photo of woven carbon fiber by denniswoo on Flickr)

In a pioneering study of carbon fiber addiction in cyclists, Dr. Walter Crankset of the University of Northeastern Oklahoma extension campus at Broken Elbow announced ground-breaking research in this hitherto unknown addictive process. The effected group includes both recreational and racing bicyclists, and seems to include men disproportionately. Dr. Crankset traveled extensively while doing the research behind this new study, including several trips to rural parts of Mexico and other Central American countries. He interviewed sportsmen in both clinical and less formal venues, primarily bars where fishermen congregate, in order to include their exposure levels and detailed analysis. He enlisted the aid of a large number of young women in developing his control group, assuming correctly that they would not be affected. Several of them have inquired about his present whereabouts, but as this interview was conducted some weeks ago, his current location is unknown.

Dr. Crankset is in the forefront of the effort to contain and eradicate the horror of carbon fiber addiction. All cyclists owe him our most sincere thanks in bringing the scourge of carbon addiction into the light of day.

CycleDog: Doctor Crankset, we've been using carbon fiber for a long time. Why this sudden insistence that it's addictive?

Dr. Crankset: Tell me if you've seen this in your group of cycling friends. It always starts innocently enough. A cyclist looks through catalog of sale items, or he stumbles across a really good deal at his local shop. Sometimes, a 'friend' introduces him to the habit with an old part that he claims he can't use anymore. It's just the thin end of the wedge that will separate the naive, unwary cyclist from his money, his family, his friends, and any semblance of a normal life. We're all well acquainted with performance enhancing drugs and the scandals surrounding them. But carbon addiction is another dark alley in our sport, an alley that some tread cautiously while others travel with reckless abandon, heedless of what may be lurking in those dim recesses.

CycleDog: How would we recognize that someone is becoming carbon-dependent?

Dr. Crankset: The subtle warning signs of carbon addiction are surprisingly like the usual wants and needs of any cyclist - at least they are at first. Joe Average might decide that a carbon handlebar would reduce vibration and make riding more comfortable. He purchases and installs one, but before long, he 'needs' a carbon seat post, or maybe even a saddle. Carbon fiber frames, shoes, brakes, wheels, and crank set follow in quick succession. His bike and his wallet get lighter, and he's on the road so much he can scarcely recognize his children let along remember their names. But he knows that a Campy Record short cage rear derailleur weighs 184 grams.

The craziness follows soon after. Some users develop bizarre ideation. A common delusion about diet is illustrative. A user may reason that while calcium is a nutritional requirement for strong bones and teeth, carbon may be a better substitute. He may begin ingesting small quantities of carbon in the form of charcoal throughout the day, gradually increasing the amount until he's developed a bag-a-day habit. The local grocery store clerks will all know his name and store security will watch him carefully.

Ultimately, he ends up hanging around aerospace symposiums trying to find the next big thing, the next exotic material for spacecraft or high performance jets, hoping against hope to score some of it for his habit. They're easy to spot in their cheap, ill-fitting suits with wild eyes and a grab bag full of spec sheets. Their hands and teeth are blackened from the charcoal habit, and they're often seen clutching ancient, dog-eared copies of Bicycle Guide. For some of these guys, carbon is just the entry drug.

CycleDog: Thank you, Doctor. This has been very informative. Do you have any final thoughts for our readers?

Dr. Crankset: Please help stamp out the scourge of carbon addiction. If someone you know has the carbon monkey on his back, don't be afraid to speak up. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Many former carbon addicts have kicked the habit and gone on to productive lives as pornographers, marijuana dealers, used car salesmen, or even Texas politicians.

Cycledog: Thanks again, Wally. I just turned the tape off. I hate trying to get this stuff out on a deadline.

Dr. Crankset: Glad to help. If the grant money comes through on this one, I can get the feds to buy me a full Campy Colnago C40 for 'research'. It'll take care of my bar tab down at Larry's too.

(click)

Man shot in bikejacking attempt

From KTUL news:


NewsChannel 8 - Man Shot In Attempted Theft Of Bike In Tulsa

Tulsa police are looking for suspects in an early morning shooting that happened after an attempted bike theft.

Police say a 53-year-old man told officers he had been riding his bicycle near a gas station when four or five men approached him and demanded the bike. The man refused and says the other men pushed him off the bike.

The victim says he was able to get back on the bike and tried to run away when one of the men began shooting at him. Police say the man was hit in the left leg by one of the shots but was able to ride the bike to a nearby hotel to ask for help.

Police say the man's injuries are non-life-threatening.

We almost made it...

It's another holiday, and as I've said before, the family tradition is that either someone is sick or we have a disaster. We almost made it though the day without incident.

About 2 hours ago, Mary yelled from the kitchen, "Lyndsay's cut herself!" She sounded scared.

I bolted. Sure enough, Lyndsay was running water over her thumb. She had been cutting up watermelon for a fruit salad. Drops of blood were everywhere on the counter and floor. She'd cut the thumb deeply, but fortunately the cut wasn't very long. I wrapped a paper towel around it and told her to keep pressure on the wound.

She sat down on the floor. That should have been a warning, but Mary and I were trying to get the blood cleaned up before it dried. We did that quickly, then I washed my hands before examining her cut. If she took the bandage away and stopped the pressure, it immediately began bleeding again, not spurting from an arterial cut, but a steady flow that would not be stopped without stitches.

Lyndsay's face went blank, no emotion, no focus. She said her vision was blurry. She was going into shock. We got some water for her to drink and kept her talking. In a few minutes, she was ready to go.

Hi Ho, we were off to the emergency room.

Like I said, that was 2 hours ago. I do not want to visit emergency rooms at any time and on the 4th of July, it's worse. We were lucky enough to be there before all the fireworks injuries show up later this evening, and fortunately there were no major medical emergencies for the staff to contend with ahead of a simple cut finger. It's probably the quickest ER trip I've ever made.

We still have 5 hours until the holiday is over.

Independence Day

(Image from Amazon.com. They have red, white, and blue streamers, too!)

Every July 4^th we celebrate our independence from colonial rule. An estimated 25,000 American troops died in the Revolutionary War, more than half of them from disease.

Then as now, the country was bitterly divided into factions. Make no mistake, we will be eternally grateful that the Revolutionaries won both militarily and politically. Every war is fought on those two fronts.

We are presently engaged in two wars that have again bitterly divided the American people. I'm not writing this to place blame or insist that this course or the other is the right one. There's a time and place for that, but not today.

Lenin is believed to have said, “The Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them.” The figurative hangman's noose around our necks in 2008 is petroleum, or more specifically, our addiction to it. We cannot drill enough holes in the Earth to satisfy that addiction. Even if we did, we do not have the refinery capacity to feed our addiction. And the burgeoning economies of both India and China consume ever-increasing quantities, so it's unlikely that the world price for petroleum will decrease significantly, despite the popular fairy tale that blames speculators for the current price spike.

There's an on-going war about our belief systems because people act on them. If you truly believe that there's a limitless supply of petroleum just waiting to be tapped, you're unlikely to believe that we're facing a significant long-term crisis. On the other hand, if you believe that we've hit the peak of oil production, and that we cannot increase that production as rapidly as demand increases, you can believe we'll be in a continuing state of crisis for a long time. Only one of these ideas can be true.

Now, as you know, CycleDog is about our common cycling experience. And I've written previously about how our beliefs influence our actions in the much smaller sphere of road cycling. On this Independence Day, regardless of your beliefs about peak oil, I urge you to declare personal independence from petroleum addiction. It may be something as simple as walking or cycling to the grocery store a couple of times a week. It may involve commuting to work on a bicycle or by public transportation. The goal is to drive less. If you believe that our oil crisis is temporary, you'll save money over the short term. If you believe the oil situation will be a permanent fixture in our lives, you've taken the first step in adapting to it. Either way, you're shaking off the financial yoke imposed by high petroleum prices.