The weather had been rainy, cold and windy for weeks when Curtis Moss reached a point where he didn’t care and he was ready to stop.

Moss, a junior at Oklahoma State University, had already cycled more than 3,000 miles. He got an offer 430 miles up the road that he couldn’t possibly refuse. Two men he met at a rest stop in Canada were traveling to Anchorage — his final destination. They offered to drive him the final leg of his 4,000-mile journey.

via OSU student rides bicycle 4,000 miles to Alaska | NewsOK.com.

Don’t ride in shoes you can’t walk through an antique shop in.

. . .

Never blame your bike or your health or anything else if you’re the last one up the hill or in to the rest stop.

. . .

If you pass another rider going up a hill, say more than “Hi,” but if it’s a woman and you aren’t, don’t assume she wants to chit-chat. Treat her as you’d have a generic guy-rider treat your wife/daughter/girlfriend.

If you’re a woman and it’s a guy, you can chit-chat all you like, they won’t mind.

. . .

Have at least one bike you feel comfortable riding in a downpour.

Ride in weather that keeps other cyclers indoors.

. . .

Learn to ride no-hands and to hop over obstacles, but not simultaneously.

Via: Rivendell Bicycle Works: Tips for Happy Riding

Sec. 22-221.  Impoundment.

Any bicycle found upon any of the streets, sidewalks, alleys, parks, or public ways, or upon private property not under the control of the owner of the bicycle, and not licensed as herein required, or which does not otherwise comply with the provisions hereof or state law, shall be impounded until compliance is made. Abandoned bicycles shall be seized and impounded for safe keeping by the police department.

(Code 1989, § 20-105)

Sec. 22-222.  License.

(a)   It shall be unlawful and an offense for any person to operate or use a bicycle with a wheel diameter of 20 inches or more, propelled wholly or in part by muscular power, upon any of the streets, sidewalks, alleys, parks, or public ways of the city without first obtaining a license therefor and having the license placed thereon as hereinafter provided.

(b)   Such persons as the city manager may designate are hereby authorized and directed to issue bicycle licenses and attach the license to the bicycle on the upright portion of the frame below the seat or in such other form and manner as the city manager may prescribe. At the time of issuance of the license, the person issuing the license shall record the date of the issuance of each license, the name and address of the person to whom the same is issued, and the license number, together with a description of the bicycle licensed. There shall be no fee or charge for the issuance of such licenses.

(c)   In the event the license becomes obliterated, mutilated, removed or for any other reason, its numbers and lettering cannot be read, the owner of the license shall be required to obtain a duplicate license.

(Code 1989, §§ 20-100–20-102)

Via: http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=12449&sid=36

I have no idea how often this law is enforced if ever.  However, since punishment for an unlicensed bike is having it impounded, I may have to rethink my little trips to the Farmer’s Market on Thursdays.  Anyone ever been asked for their license?

UPDATE: 07/06/2010

The license can be obtained at no cost from the Nichols Hills Public Works Department at

1009 NW 75th.

With a few exceptions, Oklahoma law gives bicycles as much right to use public roads as cars, on the condition that bikes shouldn’t "impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic."

Tulsa World: Roads are for bicycles, too

Update:

And just to prove my point . . .

A recent incident involving an Edmond bicyclist hit by a car is sure to stir the discussion about sharing the road.

Nate Gomez said he was out for an early morning ride Saturday when someone in a car pulled up behind him and yelled at him for being on the street. Gomez said the driver then swerved into him causing a collision. He wasn’t hurt, but his $5,000 bicycle was damaged and the driver sped away.

Bikers, drivers clash | NewsOK.com

During the Depression, two Oklahomans spent three years on the semipro bike circuit. Earl Bigelow and Carl Spencer were notorious for setting sprint-worthy paces in long-distance races. They were teammates, competitors and friends.

. . .

As teens, these two developed strong calves and thighs while competing as messenger boys in Oklahoma City. Bigelow delivered telegrams for Western Union, Spencer for rival Postal Telegraph.

“We became not only close friends,” Spencer said, “but we became a team.”

Today, Americans like Lance Armstrong can gain fame as cyclists. But these reputations are forged in overseas races, most notably the Tour de France. Bicycling has never held a dominant position in American sport, but it had a higher profile in the Depression. Bigelow and Spencer were regional stars when they formed the Oklahoma City Cycling Club in 1937, a year after Bigelow placed in the Texas Centennial race and Spencer won Oklahoma’s state championship.

The course of a friendship

A is for air

• Inflate tires to rated pressure as listed on the sidewall of the tire.
• Use a pressure gauge to insure proper pressure.
• Check for damage to tire tread and sidewall; replace if damaged.

B is for brakes

• Inspect pads for wear; replace if there is less than 1/4th of pad left.
• Check pad adjustment; make sure they do not rub tire or dive into spokes.
• Check brake level travel; at least 1” between bar and lever when applied.

C is for cranks, chain and cassette

• Make sure that crank bolts are tight; lube the treads only, nothing else.
• Check the chain for wear; 12 links should measure no more than 12 1/8 inches.
• If the chain skips on the cassette, it may need an adjustment or a new one.

Quick is for quick releases

• Hubs need to be tight in the frame; the quick release should engage at 90 degrees.
• The hub quick release should point back to insure that nothing catches on it.
• Inspect brake quick releases to make sure they reengage.

Check is for check it over

• Take a quick ride to check if derailleurs and brakes are working properly.
• Inspect the bike for loose or broken parts; tighten, replace or fix them.
• Pay extra attention to the bike to keep it in good working condition.

The Nuts and Bolts of Bicycle Safety | BartlesvilleLIVE

Dillon lived in Los Angeles for a year before moving back to Tulsa in December. And he thought it was too bad no one had started bike polo here.

In Tulsa, he found space in the back of an old warehouse across the street from where downtown’s new baseball stadium is under construction.

Via: Bicycle polo rolls into Oklahoma | NewsOK.com

The bright pink, old-fashioned Townie bicycles stationed along River Parks appear to be a hit with park visitors.

With a full year’s worth of data still being evaluated, officials believe that the free bikes were checked out by about 13,000 riders, said Tom Cooper, a member of the Tulsa Townies LLC, which provides and maintains the two-wheelers.

Read the full story: Tulsa World: Bike program on a roll

Serge Huercio – Artistic Cycling