I had the opportunity to view a few original bicycles from Orville and Wilbur Wright over the weekend. Before they made airplanes, they made bicycles. It struck me that not a lot has changed about bicycles over the many years.

Sure, technologies have changed, but the overall concept and basics of a bicycle haven’t changed. Some of the frames look similiar to the frames of today. A couple of the biggest differences today are weight and components. Today’s bicycles are lighter and stronger. They tend to take a lot more abuse today.

Oh how I long for the days when the front tire was 4 feet high!

If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to be a bike messenger in Manhattan, then you gotta see the race through Manhattan. Several bike messengers show you what it takes to be a bike messenger in Gotham.

This just proves that not only do you have to have great bike control, but all fears are left behind when you hit the streets.

As we in the cycling community know, safety is a priority with all fellow cyclists. However, many motorists view us as a pain in the arse. Truth be, we have as much right to the road as they do. We have every right to have a safe commute.

Keeping safety in mind, I thought I’d share How to Not Get Hit by Cars. With 44,000 people dying in car crashes per year, with 1 in 54 of those being a cyclist, we need to insist on safety first.

I’ve written great things about Timbuk2 Messenger bags before, but I can’t stress enough how great these bags are. I’ve been using my bag now for a couple of years and it still looks great. I’m actually have two now. One for my everyday commute and one for longer weekend trips that serves as a great carry-all and carry-on bag for those trips.

Recently Timbuk2 released some sharp looking special edition bags. Granted, these new bags are a bit pricier, but you are getting a one-of-a-kind messenger bag.

The Bag In A Box gift idea has proven to work well for those, not-so-sure what colors you like, gift ideas.

When you order a Timbuk2, your bag is hand made in San Francisco. Not only are you getting a hip, smart-looking, durable bag, your getting something you can call your own. If you need a bag, I recommend a Timbuk2.