Start and End on the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop

The bike ride on the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop began with this.

And ended with this.

If Mountain Bike Commercials Were Done Like Car TV Commercials

If mountain bike commercials were done like car commercials. 

All you need is pretty scenery, a phony deep voice, a dumb punchline and the brand name at the end.

A Bicycle Ride and a Meeting with Shane Victorino

Another reason why I like to travel by bicycle instead of by car:

One day several years ago in Clearwater, I was bicycling on the Clearwater East-West paved trail that skirts the edge of the Phillies' spring training complex, including running right behind the centerfield fence of one of the training fields.

I stopped at the chainlink fence and began chatting with a young centerfielder by the name of Shane Victorino.

We chatted about the Mets-Phillies games and I was always impressed that this major-leaguer was so down to earth and friendly and willing to chat up a passing bicyclist.

That's what I recalled last night when Victorino hit the grand slam for his new team, the Red Sox, and helped them get into the World Series.

And it was another reason why I appreciate bicycling so much.

Return to Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop

Finally, the federal government is up and running, which means the famed Red Rock Canyon scenic loop outside Las Vegas is open for business.

Steep hills, amazing views, great cycling experience. Here's my bicycle pal Kevin Cannon as we ride the Loop Saturday morning.

Tennis By Bicycle

Cool to see a woman in Summerlin who uses a bicycle for practical transportation purposes. She rides it to the tennis center in Summerlin and parks it inside the fence.

Las Vegas Cyclery Wednesday Morning Ride

Huntridge Theater Renovation Group Breaks Out Amazing Bicycle Rack Crafted by Artistic Iron Works

On a gorgeous unsually cool night in Las Vegas, I biked a mountain bike converted into an urban chariot -- a GT Zaskar -- to ride to the Faciliteq building, which is on Main Street in Las Vegas in a tough neighborhood and no man's land between the redeveloping downtown and the evolving hip arts district. On First Friday, Faciliteq's owner, Quentin Abramo, has a happy hour for his dozen green, environmentally-minded business tenants. I did a story on Quentin marking eight years in the building this month.

After chatting with some of the commercial tenants, I biked about a half-mile to Amie Pellegrini's unqiue boutique bike shop called Town Bike. Amie mentioned there was a celebration to mark the debut of an amazing, giant bicycle rack near the Huntridge Theater, a historic theater getting a rehab on busy Charleston Blvd. A company known for its great iron work jobs -- Artistic Iron Works -- crafted the new bicycle rack. 

Here's Amie in her bike shop getting ready to bike to the bike rack event.

Then it off to see this amazing bicycle rack. Channel 8 was there and the local neighborhood was celebrating with cool Mexican eats.

The giant bicycle rack was amazing.

A guy named Lance saw my GT Zaskar and said he did the same thing that I did -- convert the 1990s-era mountain bike into an urban bike complete with tire slicks and rear carrying rack.

The bar near the Huntridge Theater is a hangout for bicyclists on low riders and coasters. Like this guy.