Also at Otter, the Banshee Spitfire, 2010′s best new-bike name so far, is caught on video by PinkBike.

Ned Overend, the ageless one, is at Sea Otter as well.

For some time we’ve been following catastrophic failures of Thule’s T2 rack, which we think should be officially recalled. Looking for a good alternative? Here’s the Kuat NV, reviewed on MtnBikeRiders.com.

Ignoring the Gap: In San Francisco they’ve started a “turn ‘em in” campaign to report potholes to the city. Which reminds me, as I try to dodge the fresh crop of cavernous spring potholes in Seattle, didn’t we pass a special tax to fix these things?

Wenatchee’s Tyler Farrar continues to tear it up on the world circuit. One to watch in the majors for sure!

Idaho mtb license plates: Use ‘em or lose ‘em!

The specialty plate law in Idaho clearly requires that in years 4 and 5 after the plate goes on sale that there are at least 1,000 plates in circulation in both of those years, or they terminate ALL the plates – not just stopping sales of new ones, but canceling registration of existing ones!!

Trying to save the world’s most famous jump park in Aptos: “Skating’s kind of faded away, and cycling is huge in Aptos,” said Shawn Wilson, 22, owner of Epicenter Cycling in Aptos Village and one of those former teens who built the first jumps.

Banshee Spitfire first-look review.

What happens when a dog forces a cyclist to crash and go to the hospital with multiple injuries? Sympathy for the dog, of course: “Can you imagine that poor dog that ran down the road,” said Hernando Sheriff’s Sergeant Donna Black. “Getting caught in the bicycle like that?” LOL!

Can’t sleep, gotta ride, we’ve all been there: Another lyrical essay from the unquiet mind of Jacquie Phelan.

08172008034 from http://dseelye.vox.com/

The irony: No. 9 on that very same list was the august, venerated and fondly remembered Schwinn… Spitfire. The bike that defined my and many others’ youth. The original Spitfire hasn’t been produced for some time, and the name gradually degraded to children’s starter bikes. Now it’s back with a vengeance you gotta love.

Not like your father's Schwinn!

The question is whether Schwinn, which underwent bankruptcy and sale years ago and may not actually even exist per se any more, will raise any protest or a trademark violation. A search of Schwinn.com turned up no hits under “Spitfire.” Hopefully Banshee’s lawyers have done their homework and the Spitfire will rise from the ashes like … the bike I now own, the Firebird.