News and links 9-30-08

• One more venue to follow the pros: universalsports.com (via Belgium Knee Warmers).
• The Sears Tower new bike sharing program: "It's very easy, and it's often quicker," said Dempsey, who's not afraid to bike in a suit. "We find it to be a great convenience to our tenants." Read the article in the Sun Times. (Via CBF.)
• Factories are miracle places. Raw, ugly materials come in, get through complicated machines, and come out turned into elaborate objects. I still remember when I was a little kid and visited my dad's yarn factory. The giant, noisy machines torsioned and pulled the raw fibers at a maddening pace, and yet managed to produce the most delicate yarn. All amid the scent of cotton, wool or synthetic fibers, mixed with the intense odour of lubricating oil. The same characteristic smell that my dad would bring home on his clothes. All these memories were coming back as I was watching this 15-min movie about Brooks, the English maker of saddles. Plus, it has increased my appreciation for such a fine product. (Not that Brooks is my style at all, but still.) (Via Cyclelicious.):

  The company was started in 1866 as a leather trading company. In 1878, the company founder and president, J.B. Brooks, was riding his horse to work when the horse died. He couldn't afford a new horse, so he borrowed a friend's bicycle to get around and was immediately horrified at the uncomfortable saddle. He created the B-1, the B-2 and then finally the B-17 was introduced in the 1890s. The B-17 is now the oldest saddle design still in production.
  
  Brooks uses only British cows (yes, they really said that in the video) to ensure the highest quality, consistent thickness and the "finish we require." The saddles are assembled by hand in their ancient factory in England; they even drive the copper rivets in with hand held hammers and polish the finished saddles by hand.

  
  
• Check out the preview of the sexy "Ladies of Team Pegasus 2009 Calendar." I think I really want one of those (calendars, I mean).