CrankMyChain! Cycle TV

PORTLAND, OR - Citizen activist Chris Smith spearheaded a strong cycling contingent at the transportation section of yesterday's Project Homeless Connect.

* Legacy Health System handed out and fitted over 600 helmets.

* Jay from Community Cycling Center had 87 referrals to the Create-A-Commuter program.

* Timo Forsberg of Portland Dept. of Transportation and Emily Gardener of BTA had 34 referrals for the Ways to Work program.

* 14 bikes plus a stroller and a wheelchair were repaired by Steven Kung (Exchange Cycling Tours), myself, and other volunteer bike mechanics. Community Cycling Center provided the tools.

Transportation issues are a significant stumbling block for many homeless and low income people. Cycling is one low cost and often accessible option that allows people to reconnect to jobs and community. It was our hope that our efforts promoted cycling accessibility and safety.

Steve is like a cat who must first toy with her prey. Conrad is about to be set up and hung out to dry.

Watch for out the hippy in this episode. I got a cameo role as a Naked Bike Ride pimp. Not too much of a stretch, eh?

The Bicyclist is produced by Carl and Sharon Jameson of Craftmaster Independent.

MADISON, WI - You might remember Roger Bindl of HEM Productions. He's the 21st century Renaissance man who has a special fondness for electric bikes.

I decided to give him a ring and find out how he got his camera so steady while riding dirt roads on his show Rural Roads with Roger (you'll have to watch the next Disco Trike Live show to find out how).

Turns out we both are very interested in video telecommunications, cycling, and adventure. He watched live show Monday that I did with Johnny Stardust and used a video capture software called Camtasia to record some of the show.

Here is Roger's description:

This video is a story with three topics in disguise... A question on how to get attention, a demonstration of real time and stored video streaming, a touch on web casting with Stickam, and a case of bicyclist that share their enthusiasm in video and singing.

Thanks for the video, Roger. The answer to your question is... Internet. But, I have not tried cable access yet. I'm certain the two distribution mediums with meld soon and cable access stations create that bridge. I know it is already happening at Portland Community Media.

The cable access stations have the production equipment and volunteers to make independent broadcasts happen connecting it to the web seems a short step.

I'll be exploring this subject much more and I am sure Roger will, too.

Catch CrankMyChain! Live tomorrow from 10-11 AM PDT. The Special Guest tomorrow is our FreeGeek in Residence and bike pornographer, Reverend Phil.

PORTLAND, OR - Johnny Stardust and I rolled out the disco trike for a little live broadcast beta testing and fun in the sun.

I had the camera to take a few seconds of video every minute so you can see just a bit of what you missed.

We're building CrankMyChain! Live and we want you to watch and participate. Check out the show Mondays and Thursdays (so far) at 10 AM PDT and get updates at http://www.twitter.com/crankmychain.

No bikes just drama in this episode of the Bicyclist. It seems Jose's life may not be taking the direction he'd like it to.

OREGON CITY, OR - On a recent trip to Clackamas County for another bike video I'm working on I came across Tim Dugan with Classic Cycles and his free green bikes. He and Green Grocer have teamed up to provide the free bikes for residents and visitors to Oregon City's downtown.

It's a great program which should give folks one more reason to explore the historic first city of Oregon.

Zack helps Conrad choose the right bike for a "reject sales guy". The Lady Divebombers hit their mark.

PORTLAND, OR - Come say hi to me at the Tour De Fat Tomorrow. You can do it in person or in cyberspace because we'll be broadcasting live from the disco trike.

That's 8/18 in waterfront park north of the Hawthorne Bridge. 11a-12p.

Entertainment includes The March Fourth Marching Band and The Sprockettes!

Young love. It warms the cockles of my heart.

PS - THIS GOT LEFT OFF THE PODCAST SOMEHOW. SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN BROADCAST.

Through the streets and boroughs of New York, Jimmy, a bicycle messenger from the Albatross Courier Company is out to deliver a package "on time". Braving the perilous city streets there's nothing Jimmy can't handle...or is there? This 1987 comedy classic short shown worldwide marked the debut of Director/Screenwriter Ari Taub and captured the spirit of low-budget filmmaking in New York City.

By the way, that's not Rev Phil playing the messenger role. It's just supposed to look like him.