| The Dirt July/August 2007 Book Review Cycling’s Greatest Misadventures
“My first real kiss was on a bike,” writes Erich Schweikher, happily beginning his collection of cycling stories with his own account of true love. Cycling’s Greatest Misadventures reels
out one tale after another that will have you laughing and crying so hard you might fall off your own bike. Schweikher and Diamond have put together a great collection of stories submitted by men and women riders from all over the world, ranging from cautionary tales (never try to repair your flat tire with dental floss) to sobering losses on a cross-country bike tour to glimpses of cycling’s little-known history. Did you know that the Buffalo Soldiers of the nineteenth century participated in a “bicycle cavalry” in the American West? Or that a rat can get wedged in your front spokes while you are riding and live to tell his friends about it? Well-armed with new chat material for those long group rides, we can only hope that Schweikher has plans for more misadventures in the future. Fresh from the Field Not Your Grandpa’s Camcorder Not into camcorders? Too dorky? Too embarrassing? Well in this YouTube world, you gotta get over that. Whether you’re setting off on exotic travels or wanting to show your friend across the country your new mountain-biking skills, the Flip Video Camcorder is an effortless way to put it all on video. The push of a button and this pocket-sized, light-as-a-feather digital recorder will have you hooked. Soon the world will be a movie. And once you shoot, just plug the camcorder into your computer and instantly share your works of art via e-mail. The Flip Video Camcorder also claims the title of being the first to upload directly to YouTube, so sharing your stupid pet tricks, inspired music videos, and mockumentaries with the world is at your fingertips. 30-minute camcorder, $119; 60-minute camcorder, $149. Available at Target and other electronic retailers. Out There Lodging Green It’s official: green is the new black. Everywhere, energy conservation is becoming a top priority, and lately hotels are starting to do their part to rein in energy and water waste. In September 2007 the Proximity Hotel will open its doors as “the most sustainable hotel in North America,” serving as a model for future hotel construction. This 147-room hotel, located in Greensboro, North Carolina, is being built and will be operated in ways that will set new precedents for hotel energy and water use. Designed to use 40 percent less energy than comparable hotels, the Proximity has 100 solar panels (shown at left) on its roof that will produce enough hot water for more than a hundred average households. With high-efficiency plumbing fixtures installed throughout the hotel, it will also use 35 percent less water. And there is no compromise of style either. Designed to look like an old cotton mill, the Proximity’s rooms will boast the loftlike feel of a converted factory, with exposed brick, 10-foot ceilings, and 7-foot-high openable windows. And to spread the green outside as well, bicycles and postride shower facilities will be available to employees and guests as a transportation alternative to cars. There is a 5-mile greenway for bike riding nearby. With all of its sustainability features, the Proximity will be the first hotel to earn a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It is now accepting reservations for September and beyond. Rooms for $189 to $199 per night. www.proximityhotel.com; 336 379 8200 Other green hotels worth checking out: The Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa American Canyon, California Located in the Napa Valley, the Gaia opened in March, making it the first green hotel in California. Off-season: $109 to $149; high season: $159 to $229 per night. www.gaianapavalleyhotel.com; 888 798 3777 The Len Foote Hike Inn at Amicalola Falls State Park Dawsonville, Georgia A truly unique experience—this hotel is located in a national park and is accessible only by foot over a 5-mile moderate hike. A hearty family-style dinner and breakfast are included. $70 to $97 per night. www.hike-inn.com; 800 581 8032 Vanessa Noel Hotel Green Nantucket, Massachusetts This chichi inn on exclusive Nantucket Island boasts recycled furnishings, organic food, and a SoHo vibe. $250 to $600 per night. www.vanessanoelhotelgreen.com; 508 228 5300 |
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