PFN: Should we bother with the Bicycle Film Festival?

So, I was thinking of submitting a couple of Pinch Flat movies to the 2008 Bicycle Film Festival.

This will involve a tremendous amount of screwing around with technologies I don't understand. So to make my life easier, perhaps you can help me select just one or two of your favorites from last year's schedule.

To view them again, just hit the "5 Minute Machine" link below, which should spit back the appropriate results.

And remember: The videos may suck, but you can't argue with the soundtrack!

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Also, FYI: I'm still going to load all of these movies onto a single DVD and make it available to those of you who have graciously asked for it. I think. (See that part about technologies I don't understand.)

Road Rage Best Practices

Our friends at Mpls Bike Love have posted what's being called "the funniest road rage incident ever" which involves a girl named Skanky chasing down a WMLIA (white male loser in automobile) and sticking to him like glue until she gets an apology.

We think that calls for a new Pinch Flat Poll!

Pinch Flat Poll #125! NOT suitable for framing!

Few people realize that a yellow-jersey winner at the TDF typically brings home dozens and dozens of maillot jeunes (meillot jeunex? ), most of them never worn nor even touched by the cyclist himself, but used for all kinds of ceremonial purposes. Like stoking the egos of fat corporate executives at T-Mobile and Phonak.

Now that Floyd has been, uh, discharged as the 2006 TDF champion, what will happen to all those yellow jerseys?

It's time for another gratuitous PFN poll!

Apropos of absolutely nothing, other than Floyd's Leadville finish... and Cristian Moreni's results...

Would Jesus Ride a Mountain Bike?

There are two references to automobiles in the Bible. From the New Testament: "The disciples came to together in one Accord." And from the Hebrew scriptures: "God drove them from the Garden of Eden in his Fury."

But at lunch today, Pinchie (who has a degree in theology!) assures us that Jesus would not drive a car. He would definitely ride a bike. But what kind of bike?

It's not a question we've really considered until now, but it's a good one.

Given that He's pushing about 2000 years old, I should think he'd be most comfortable on a full-suspension rig like the Specialized Epic or maybe some sort of mixte, easy to step through wearing a robe. On the other hand, He might appreciate classic lugged steel from Italy.

Jesus has a well established record of hanging out with lowlifes and petty criminals and social outcasts, so perhaps a tallbike or a folding bike is more His style. What do you think? (Previously we noted this fellow, who believes that Jesus rides a tandem.) Please note: Awesomest joke by reader Matt, in the comments. Buy that man a beer!

Pinch Flat Poll! The best looking pro jersey is...

OK, we've had our fun with the worst looking jerseys in the nation. Let's consider the best looking jerseys in the TDF peloton.

In honor of the Tour Day France — It's Gratuitous PFN Poll #5!

It's been a while since we offered you, noble reader, the opportunity to express your opinion on important matters related to cycling, in prefabricated multiple-choice form.

Forthwith, we ask you: Where should the Tour Day France prologue be held next year?

Pinch Flat News Poll #4: Is your local bike shop in the Top 100 of 2007?

Bike Retailer magazine (hi guys! thanks for the blurb!) has published its annual list of the "Top 100" bike shops in the nation. Not being bike shop owners ourselves, it's not entirely clear how these shops were selected--probably in volume of sales--but the selecting took place at an undisclosed location in San Diego back in February.

If you had all-encompassing power over the secretive body that makes these decisions, what criteria would YOU use to select the best bike shops in the USA?

They shoot bike thieves, don't they?

Daniel Westrop has been caught. You will remember him as Great Britain's most wanted bike thief. You may also remember him from Pinch Flat Poll #1, where we asked you whom you'd like to punch more, Westrop or Patridge Family manager Rueben Kinkaid.

It was close, but 52 percent of Pinch Flat Readers preferred to punch Westrop. As has been pointed out in a number of polls, there is certainly no reason why you would have to choose between the two options "in the real world." In other words, by all means punch them both, if you get the chance.

Pinch Flat Poll #3: Bikes at drive-thru windows?

Seen in the papers this morning:

Wait, let's get this straight: They're going to allow bikes at drive-thru windows in Maine? Hells bells, they should require bikes. You know how many heart attacks old Dave Thomas had before he finally shed this mortal coil?

The fruit of today's labors: A new Pinch Flat Poll!

Even if it's a slow news day, we feel the full burden of being your up-to-the-minute source of useful cycling information. OK, so it's time to ask an especially tough question:

If you had to choose, which would you prefer: Riding a folding bike like this one? Or wearing your underwear on the outside of your pants for a day?