Push back on coal

Can you believe Congress is considering legislation that would double our greenhouse gas emissions from planes and cars? This is part of a plan that the coal industry has proposed to Congress that would make "liquid coal" the petroleum of the future.

I recently borrowed "An Inconvenient Truth" from my local library. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out, even if you don't like Al Gore, the facts presented in the movie stand on their own.

The world's climate scientists are in agreement that humans are the leading cause of global warming and the problem is getting worse. If Congress passes this bill it puts us on the fast track to climatological disaster.

I read in the last week that a bill had also been introduced to committee that would make it illegal for people to build wind farms. Not surprisingly, the bill was being sponsored by Congress critters from big coal producing states. It's time to push back on the polluters who have put the pursuit of the almighty dollar above a livable world for future generations.

I signed a petition urging Congress to vote no on tax breaks and subsidies on coal you can sign it too by using the link below:

http://pol.moveon.org/stopkingcoal/?r_by=&rc=mailto

The photo above is used by permission and was copied from Bruno D Rodrigues' Flickr account.

For Sale: 1991 Bridgestone MB Zip

Back in 1992, I was wrapping up a three year career in one of the top bike shops in the midwest. We were a Bridgestone dealer and everyone at the shop loved the company's products. We had two Bridgestone MB Zips in our inventory and it was a real attention getter. Every component was hand picked for weight savings and quality.

The frame was so supple, I remember the first time I took one out for a ride as I applied the front brake, the fork flexed and shuddered. I wanted to buy one, but the owner of the shop wouldn't let me do it. He was afraid I'd break it, or that's what he said.

So, being a student with access to the internet, I went onto Usenet News and found a mountain bike related newsgroup and put out the word that I was looking for an MB Zip. Amazingly enough, there was someone out there who had one they would sell me. We exchanged phone numbers, worked out pricing, shipping and COD issues.

A week later, the bike showed up at the shop where I worked. It was in a little rougher shape than I'd hoped for, but mechanically sound. And despite its scratched up handle bar and seat post, it's been a great bike for 16 years. I never thought I'd part with it. Honestly, I've been watching eBay for an MB Zip garage queen for the last couple years. I've seen a few Zips come up, but no garage queens. I'm starting to think it's a rather mythical beast. If one had come up, I would have certainly bid on it, but it's doubtful I could compete with the kinds of folks who paid $2K earlier this year for a brand new Bridgestone X0-1.

Even though I love this bike, I haven't ridden it since I bought the fixie earlier this year. The fixie is just too much fun, and it's cyclocross so can take it on trails and it's faster around town than the Zip. I need the room in my shed for kids bikes, so this one has to go.

If you know anyone interested in a classic mountain bike, send them the link to my auction:
http://tinyurl.com/2mse6q.