Staying True: Helpful Links for Cyclists

Browsing the Internet this week I sought a diverse range of resources for bikers, and in doing so discovered a number of websites that could be useful and interesting for all cyclists regardless of their level of involvement. The first, Bicycle Fixation, is a relatively small site, however, it contains several links to articles about bikes and sustainability as well as a unique section dedicated to photo essays about bicycles. The Bicycle Kitchen, along with the Bikerowave and Bike Oven, offer important information for cyclists in the Los Angeles community on how they can learn to fix their bikes from volunteers at these community wrenching spaces. The Bicycle Kitchen website is simple, easy to navigate, and aesthetically pleasing. A local bike legend of sorts who recently passed away, Sheldon Brown, operated a widely known website that is a veritable encyclopedia of bicycle information. Although informal, it is certainly credible, well organized, and I have found it helpful on many occasions. Street Heat is yet another great online tool for Angelinos. Its finest aspect is the extensive linkroll it features and the fact that it can always be counted on to be current with bicycle related issues. The Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition’s main focus on their website is to explain their mission, and to get others involved; however, I find the main page to be too busy to keep me focused. The Conservation Law Foundation’s website is also busy, but in that case it works to their advantage showcasing the multitude of information available on the site. The graphics are simple, and the site is easy to navigate since it is cleverly divided into five broad areas of conservation. In my mind Urban Futures is an overly complicated site, but an excellent source for information on urban planning. It also has a section for relevant headlines, which drew my attention.

The International Bicycle Fund website is extremely well-rounded. It provides several links, and is especially useful because it draws on the progress of so many different countries. I found Illuminate LA to be beneficial because it simultaneously gives its reader so much information and acts as a call to action for the community by listing rides and planning meetings. I am certainly biased in my designation of the Midnight Ridazz site as my favorite, but with a mere glance at the website it is easy to see why. This may be the least formal link on my list, but as its primary function is to serve as a communicative thread for riders in Los Angeles and beyond, it succeeds admirably at that. Its primary functions are a calendar, photo gallery, and forum. The site is functional and entertaining throughout.