The Icicle Bicycle Ride takes place each January 1 in Pittburgh — no matter what the weather brings, and no matter what cocktails were imbibed the night before.

Organizer Mark Yergin told the Pittburgh Tribune

It is a social ride, not a fitness ride, and Yergin said that participants can turn around and head back at any time. All bike types are welcome, and Yergin said he’s seen everything from road bikes to mountain bikes to recumbent bikes, and riders in all types of conditions, from the wide awake to those who are still recovering from the night before.

About the only thing he hasn’t seen, he said, is a unicycle.

I’m guessing this has not traditionally been a bar ride, if you know what I mean. Maybe an energy bar ride…

Photo: (cc) Creative Commons by Teppo, http://flickr.com/photos/teppo/

What do pro cyclists do after the sun sets on their racing days?  Well, some — like Brian Lopes or Tinker Juarez — continue to race against the sun. But others develop bike brands like, say, Eddie Merckx, Greg Lemond, or John Tomac. This article at Bicycle Retail News has some nice insights into what it takes to succeed as a cyclist-turned-entrpreneur.

But I was struck by this interesting point made by Hans “All the Way” Rey:

Rey, 41, said he’s not very interested in starting his own brand, and would only consider it if things really fell into place. “As we all know, it takes many other factors than a name to have a successful brand,” Rey said. “Mountain biking is a sport that doesn’t have as big, popular and mainstream names as Tony Hawk or Mat Hoffman.”

Rey may be right– after all, running a business requires, y’know, actually running a business. But he did provoke this thought: If Hans Rey doesn’t own the biggest name in mountain biking, who does?  (It helps that he has all those freestyling skills that appeal to the Dave Mirra groupies.) I think Rey underestimates his brand recognition.

 Photo courtesy of HansRey.com

Methinks biking through winter’s fury is an exercise in preparedness, if not stubbornness. It is a wise effort—to doggedly prepare not simply one’s self, but one’s equipment, for the wrath of winter.

Furthermore, the notion occurred to me that sharing my ordeal might perchance afford some amusement to those internet denizens that seemingly take pleasure in reading of such travails. I shall explain forthwith….

Take one ordinary steel hardtail. Replace normal tires with studded versions. Add fenders—a task verily impossible, were it not for a king’s ransom of zip ties. Viola—a winter-ready steed, champing to challenge the icy highways and byways.

—Ah, but the sun does shine, however briefly, in wintertime. Wise is he with a sturdy mount in his stable—a workhorse to haul provisions to fill the larder. —Verily, a diet of all work and no play is nary in balance. A sojourn to the Castle of Ray is in order. To ride the oaken planks is a proven tonic for the winter doldrums. And a spry steed is necessary for such a lively undertaking.

Authorities in Japan are considering a new cycling law that would make it illegal to use a cell phone while riding a bike. I’d call that legislating the obvious, but it’s actually surprising how many urban cyclists you see chatting on the blower while spinning through traffic.

Perhaps more interesting to American bike commuters: Additionally, the law would penalize cyclists for inapproprate or excessive bell ringing.

The report filed on Thursday suggested banning cyclists from pedaling while: using a mobile phone; listening to music with headphones on; and randomly ringing the bell to avoid trouble with others.

I’m no acoustics engineer, but I’d guess a very strange set of circumstances must accrue to create a situation where random bicycle bell-ringing rises to the level of a social problem.

In Seattle, they’re discussing whether cyclists should pay for a license. The argument goes like this: Because bikes are demanding and getting additional amenities like dedicated lanes and parking racks, cyclists should bear some of the cost.  This is an updated version of the idiotic complaint bike commuters have been hearing for years: “Get your bike off the road, automobile drivers paid for it.”

Even if it were true that car drivers paid for roads (in most states this is emphatically not true, even in the rare case where a portion of gasoline tax is earmarked for road building and maintenance), this ignores an equally simple truth: Most cyclists own at least one car and a home, and do pay to register, license, insure, and fuel their cars like anyone else.

In fact, obsessive cyclists are rather like parents who send their kids to private school: They pay for other kids to go to public school, and they keep class size down. Bike commuters pay for roads while relieving congestion. They should be the last people to be harassed with additional taxes, fees, and laws.

It being Christmas time and all, I thought Santa might want some ideas for me:

1-New off road drop bars. I’ve tried everything on the market and I’m still not happy. I know a certain company that has some pictures of what I’ve got in mind, but maybe Santa can send some elves over to merry ol’ England to rough him up a bit, and get production started.

2-Some drop bar hydraulic brake levers. I know there are quite a few options in the cable actuated arena, but I want hydros. Thanks Santa.

3-An EWR style frame. High BB (13″), short chainstays (~16.5″), lotsa stand over. And while you’re at it Santa, 650B rear wheel 29″ front. Thanks again. UPDATE: I was looking for a picture of an EWR for those not in the know. Instead I found a new EWR website!

4-Time. More of it would be great Santa. Maybe a bit longer weekend, and a few more hours after the kids area asleep. Maybe an extra 20 hours a week? Cool, you’re the man Mr. Claus.

But more seriously, I hope everyone gets to enjoy some time with their loved ones, and get a chance to relax and unwind. I know people get wound up pretty tight this time of year about stuff, but it is just stuff, and even if I never see anything on my list above, I’ll still be happy that all my siblings will be together this Christmas (all eight of us, including my brother home from Iraq).

Honestly I already got a few pairs of wool socks for Christmas, everything else is just icing on the fruit cake.