On my list of automotive attractions yet to visit, this one holds its place at the top.
Category Archives: Transportation
The One.
Of all the timeless and elegant automotive creations I admire– and aspire to own– this uncomplicated ’80s classic remains at the top of my list. There’s nothing quite like a well-maintained factory original to command my attention, in red of course. Recalling my prize sighting two years ago, a 560 SL is still the one in my book!
On The Nose.
“This must be a 1958,” I declared with quick yet careful thought, if not just calculated guessing. “You hit it right on the nose,” the gentleman replied. “1958 it is.” Oh, how I love it when I’m dead-on with MBZ model years!
Spotting it well ahead of me in the gray-sky distance while cycling through Golden Gate Park, I knew right away this one would stop me in my tracks. And let me tell you, it was well worth my break in cadence, not to mention an excellent photo-op. What I had the good timing to encounter has to be the most pristine Mercedes-Benz 190 SL I believe I’ve ever seen in the open air, outside of a showroom or auto show that is.
If you’re even more spellbound than I am and happen to have a bit of cash to spare, this timeless automotive masterpiece can most certainly be yours. All Steve at CarPlanet will need is the money of course. See if you can guess this classic’s asking price; you might just hit the figure on the nose!
It’s Different, Apparently.
So I found the answer: 6.5 inches shorter, 3.3 inches narrower, and 4.6 inches lower. If you happen to be pondering the same question I did, then these specifications might satisfy at least your initial curiosity as well. Suffice to say– even with some challenge to the immediate naked eye– several key differences do exist between the new BMW X1 and its close sibling the X3. We’ll soon see how well the X1 is received here in the U.S., eye-catching as this little guy is. Of course success might depend on whether you choose to call it a crossover or an SU– pardon me– SAV. As I’m not one for “crossovers” myself, let’s go with the latter.
The shorter, narrower, lower X1.
The longer, wider, taller X3.
Fini, et Pas Fini
Paris came and went, again, as 2162 miles of hard hammering are now “fini.” After three weeks of enjoying my routine, on this morning the routine is over. No new day of competition is waking me up at 5:30.
While last year marked Australia’s moment, this year the highest honor goes for the first time to Great Britain. And yes, “The Missile” did indeed take the final stage one more time. Altogether, broadcast withdrawals notwithstanding, here’s to the exciting and successful completion of the 99th Tour de France.
The final stage winner hammers just behind 2012’s overall Tour winner.
Bob Roll commented yesterday that every year more and more spectators decorate the roadsides of France. As the planning for next year’s Tour progresses, I have to wonder about crowd control, or in some cases lack thereof. After all, given such alarming incidents as loose dogs, burning flares and scattered tacks, not to mention increasingly chaotic and ever-diminishing road space for cyclists to reach their marks, I would imagine in many cases a bit more order would be most appreciated. Yes, “C’est Le Tour,” but still– to a point.
How fitting that Great Britain dominated the 2012 Tour, just in time for the Olympic Games to kick off in London! After an intense three weeks in France, now it’s on to the next riveting chapters of athletic competition. All the while, I’m pleased to have gotten in my own ride on every single day of the Tour, logging just over 500 miles in my own saddle during this period. It’s not 2162 unfortunately, given the limitations of time and local roads, but at least almost a fourth that number for this amateur. C’est mon Tour, though thankfully– I’m “pas fini.”
A British One-Two into Paris
Twenty days of racing complete, 153 competitors still in the game, and but one stage remaining– this of course tomorrow’s grand finale. The third week of Le Tour de France has magnificently come and gone, leaving behind yet one more batch of remarkable accomplishments and impressive finishes.
And now it’s on to Paris, for the Tour’s big finish on the Champs Elysees. Considering the men in first and second place overall are both riding for Great Britain– Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome respectively– it’s a “British One-Two” as Tour commentators put it. Then, if “The Missile” Mark Cavendish from The Isle of Man wins tomorrow’s final stage once again, perhaps it will be called a British One-Two-Plus. We’ll see!
Say What?
An astounding 43 riders are now out– more than one-fifth the starting roster– while the remaining peloton has shown itself to be just plain tired, apart from having to deal with such disgraces as Sunday’s tack incident. Not a moment too soon has come the second rest day of the Tour de France, as now 155 battle-scarred professional cyclists move ever closer to Paris. Just how many will make it remains to be seen at this point.
Meanwhile on this rest day, one of my new favorite photos of this year’s Tour deserves a smile. So classically French as it is, in the spirit of The New Yorker I’d love to know what this spirited Frenchman might be saying. Caption anyone?
(The winning caption goes here.)
With Plenty More to Come!
On this Bastille Day, with 13 stages of Le Tour now behind us, the epic cycling event is now two-thirds of the way to its annual grand finish in Paris. From the raw energy of today’s photo finish, to the unfortunate greater-than-usual loss of 35 riders at this point, the ongoing excitement of such remarkable sportsmanship carries the 99th Tour de France into its third and final week, with plenty more fantastic stage finishes like these to come!
With the climbs of the Pyrenees next up, closer and closer these 163 remaining professionals come to their grand and well-deserved finale. Before long we’ll once again be enjoying the Champs-Elysees!
On a Day of “Rest”…
In addition to the consistent yet unpredictable excitement of professional cycling, a secondary attraction always lies beneath the surface of Tour de France broadcast coverage. This is, the ability of television viewers here at home– or from anywhere beyond the event itself– to take in what might seem like all of the country of France.
From farmland to mountain terrain, villages to mid-sized cities, modest cottages to grand chateaus, French topography and landmarks prove captivating as yet another interesting sight always seems to catch the eye. Even during a surprise sprint attack, an exhausting climb or a bullet-like descent, it’s hard to be unaware of the athletes’ beautiful surroundings. The genuine outpouring of enthusiasm from numerous roadside spectators simply enhances the joy. Plus, the roads, towns and many varied locations we see are never all the same from one year to the next, because no two Tour routes are exactly alike.
Now on this first of two days of “rest” in the Tour de France, the opportunity is here for any fan so inclined to enjoy as much French scenery as possible, free from the obvious priority of the next Tour stage. (If you missed it, the second rest day is next Tuesday, July 17.) All the while I dream of my own days– hopefully not too far in my future– when I will enjoy these beautiful places firsthand, by car, motorcycle, or best of all– bicycle! With each passing Tour, I realize all the more it’s been far too long since my last visit to France.
Triumphant on the Flats
After six stages and the prologue, the first week of the 2012 Tour de France has coasted into history with plenty of memorable results and of course no shortage of coverage.
Here’s to a week of truly triumphant finishes on relatively flat stretches of road!
Next come the mountains following this predominantly flat week, bringing with them a certain reshuffling of stage winners. In other words, we may not be seeing a fourth victory photo of young Peter Sagan right away. Stay tuned!
Vive Le Tour, Encore!
My favorite sporting event of the year is well underway. Here on the first day of the second half of the year, Stage 1 of the 2012 Tour de France is rolling through not France incidentally, but eastern Belgium. The city of Liege marks this year’s starting point, following yesterday’s individual time trial prologue.
As usual this time of year, I know how a good chunk of my free time will be spent– watching NBC Sports that is– likely around 5:30am to catch some live moments of this exciting professional cycling action.
From there comes the continued accumulation of my own road cycling mileage, which I’m happy to report more than doubled in the first half of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011, putting me at a modest yet respectable 2,106 miles so far this year. If this number sounds like a lot, keep in mind the fact it happens to be 55 miles less than the total distance of the current Tour de France itself!
After sacrificing pedaling for motorcycling in ’10 and ’11, I’ve since happily reignited my cycling discipline and kicked back up my overall mileage. Still, my personal record is not about to be broken, as I’d have to triple my latest figure in order to exceed my 2008 total of just over 6,200 miles. At this point, two-thirds of this record by the end of 2012 will be more than satisfactory.
Meanwhile of course, for the next three weeks once again, vive le tour!
Yet Another “Coupe” in the Mix
“It would be great if the automakers’ marketing departments would please cease and desist when it comes to trying to push these prettier sedans on us as though they were actually coupes. They just aren’t.” (Matt Davis, AutoBlog.com)
I entirely concur. Sure, the 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is an attractive machine, a bit sleeker and more eye-catching than the current 3 or 5, though still no dramatic departure from its relatives. In any case, what’s here called a “coupe” looks suspiciously to me like a new sedan in the family. It seems this could very well have been badged and sold as the new 5 Series, which certainly would have been an exciting move in itself. Instead, we’re treated to yet another dose of head-scratching marketing strategy, as German automakers apparently race to keep up with– and perhaps manage to outdo– each other with the latest “coupe” in the mix.
My own preference in this unusual automotive category remains unchanged. Line up this new 6 next to the CLS and the A7, and still, as I’ve mentioned, I’ll take a Panamera any day!
Gazing South-Southwest
From one of my most recently discovered vantage points, often on the horizon gazing south-southwest appears a certain famous landmark. On a day like this one however, with weather conditions so drastically different from one mile to the next, you really wouldn’t know anything was out there. And trust me, having pedaled through that thick, damp, blinding cover not long before this photo was taken, indeed the cycling day was far more satisfying in the vicinity of this present location.
Hot in the Bay
What a fantastic outdoor day, when it’s unusually hot in the Bay. From one picturesque viewpoint to another, this is a time to savor what feels like Southern California weather, never knowing of course how long it will stick around. When it falls on a Sunday, all the better! Summer is indeed upon us, and not just by calendar alone.
Looking Back at 75
Now that the Golden Gate Bridge has celebrated its much-anticipated 75th birthday, one more date hereby joins the timeline of San Francisco’s most notable landmark. On such an occasion as this, I find it quite interesting to look back into history, to the birth of what will very likely outlive our grandchildren’s great-grandchildren!
Go West!
Finally! Relieved cyclists are at long last returning to the west sidewalk of the Golden Gate Bridge, thanks to its much-anticipated and very necessary reopening this week. This of course comes just in time for the iconic landmark’s big 75th anniversary celebration this weekend, while not a moment too soon– as I’ve said before— for us cyclists simply tired of having to navigate the narrow and overcrowded east walkway. For months the bridge’s east side has been nothing more than a maddening pedestrian obstacle course. Now, happily enough, the madness is all over, at least for now if not– fingers crossed– for good.
Finally a reality once again, thankfully so!
This lengthy and unfortunate cycling inconvenience came about, as you may very well know, thanks to south-end construction of the new Golden Gate Bridge entry plaza and Bridge Pavilion, which has now finished up right on schedule with this weekend’s anniversary festivities. Not only did the work wipe away existing pathway access to the west sidewalk, but bridge officials apparently decided not to let cyclists pass through the service area or alongside the toll booths, which would have been perfectly fine with me. Instead we waited– and suffered– until now, as finally the time has come for cyclists to “go west” once again.
Happy 75th, Golden Gate. I’m looking forward to my first west-side crossing in far too long. Plus, seeing as the new pathway from the plaza to the west sidewalk is much improved over the previous, wider and smoother that is, in the end it looks like we cyclists have been rewarded!
Let’s See More…
The 2012 Tour of California Finishes in Downtown L.A.
A professional cycling race making its way along Sunset Boulevard through West Hollywood was truly an impressive and memorable sight to behold today. Indeed this was the first time the Amgen Tour of California featured such a route, along a stretch of roadway my own bicycle knows all too well– at somewhat slower speeds among a few more cars of course. Still, to see the peloton hammer through such familiar territory was nothing less than an honor and an inspiration.
As plans evolve for 2013, I hope the Tour of California decides to bring road racing back to even more of L.A., to some exciting and challenging streets yet to be conquered. Mulholland Drive, anyone? In any case, let’s see some more of this in our own backyard. May today’s first not be the last!
Beyond Awesome
In addition to the Tour of California, another major professional cycling event currently taking place is of course the 2012 Giro d’Italia. One of my favorite racing powerhouses, “fastest man on two wheels” Mark Cavendish, continues to prove he’s beyond awesome in taking today’s Stage 13 in the northwestern town of Cervere, as we see above. No matter how it all ends on May 27, Cavendish and his numerous awesome competitors are already fueling my anticipation of this year’s Tour de France, come June 30!
In The Blink…
Blink and you probably missed them! The 2012 Tour of California is well underway, with Stage 2 kicking off this morning in San Francisco’s picturesque Marina District. The peloton didn’t exactly stick around for coffee; within minutes riders were hammering south en route to today’s finish line in Aptos. Hitting a mere 40 MPH on my own ride today, no doubt I would have been dropped.
If you did blink, look for the gang again tomorrow at the start of Stage 3 in San Jose. Quite a cycling week it is!
Untouched & Unmistakable
1967
2012
Some designs in the automotive world never change, nor should they. As we now approach the 50th anniversary of a beloved icon that debuted in 1963, and throughout this past half-century of remarkable technological advancement, the basic shape remains largely untouched and refreshingly unmistakable.
In other words, a Porsche 911 is and seemingly always will be, well, a Porsche 911. Having recently enjoyed my first roadside spotting of 911’s newest incarnation– the seventh-generation 991— among all else, the longer, flatter tail lights immediately flagged a striking resemblance to its oldest predecessors. Before delving further into the features of this amazingly advanced machine, I was already both impressed and nostalgic.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche clearly made an indelible mark on the auto industry, while living long enough to see this latest version of his half-century-old creation. May he now rest in peace. And may all future 911 generations continue to respect and preserve Mr. Porsche’s original, one-of-a-kind design.
Always A Plus
A 120-mile motorcycle excursion proved most enjoyable yesterday, especially considering the rarity of such an event for me these days. Suffice to say, in this first third of 2012 the miles have added up far more quickly on my bicycle than my motorcycle– 1250 versus 700 respectively– and not by accident.
No miles of any kind accumulate all that quickly within San Francisco itself, inviting the satisfaction of any beyond-the-city journey. Still, while the motorcycle has become my almost-daily city commuting tool, the bicycle continues to enable my longstanding pleasures 
of strength, endurance and distance. Gone is my time, so it appears, of an 11,000-mile motorcycling year. At the same time, still to return is a year of bicycling 6,000 miles. While anticipating this accomplishment, at least I’m reminded of the pleasures of a motor once in a while.
Motorcycling has its place no doubt, and fortunately I’ve not had to choose one over the other. However, as I’ve said more than once over my past 2.5 years of owning a motorcycle: I’m a bicyclist first, and I always will be. Of course my preference also burns more calories, which is always a plus!
A Sight to Remember
Washingtonians were treated to an impressive sight this past Tuesday, one that might not be seen again anytime soon. The photos deserve a good look, as we bow to this truly unparalleled transportation marvel.
Keeping The Momentum Going
It’s time to bring Idaho to California. While certainly not the first to say it, I’m joining the chorus.
The issue at hand: Bicycles and stop signs. In California, the law dictates that cyclists must always come to a complete stop. (Yeah, right.) The debate has been around for a long time, and it always seems to get pushed once again to the forefront when someone gets hurt or killed.
It’s important for cyclists to yield to cars and pedestrians, to stop when necessary, and to not kill ourselves or anyone else. Stopping at every uncrowded intersection, however, is simply not conducive to the physics of cycling, especially the kind of high-speed road sprinting that my fellow racers and I enjoy. Recreational and commuter bicyclists might stop more easily, but they too shouldn’t have to always do so just because it’s “the law.” And as I look carefully for cars and pedestrians in my path that would cue my need to stop, I’m tired of having to also look around for cops before rolling through an otherwise-deserted intersection.
This brings us to Idaho. The law there permits bicyclists to treat a stop sign as a yield and roll through it under certain circumstances, meaning… when it’s harmless to do so! This is hardly a novel concept; in fact it’s exactly what I and so many other cyclists already do everyday, in all those instances when simple practicality trumps the letter of the law.
It would just be nice if we didn’t have to risk being stopped and ticketed for safe judgment, common sense, and keeping the momentum going!
Those Were The Days
In the spirit of that famous TV theme line “girls were girls and men were men,” I’m thinking now of a time ever so long ago when “5’s were 5’s and 3’s were 3’s.”
Take 1987, during my just-beginning-to-learn-to-drive heyday of knowing my car models while imagining the one I wanted to have. The clear difference between BMW’s 3 Series and 5 Series could be spotted a mile away.
1987 BMW 3 Series
1987 BMW 5 Series
I’m afraid the same cannot be said in 2012, not even from a few feet away, let alone a mile. Upon my first glance of the “all-new” sixth generation 3 Series, I really did think I was looking at a 5. Only upon my surprise of seeing the trunk lid badge was I corrected.
2012 BMW 3 Series
2012 BMW 5 Series
Can you see an immediate difference? Call me old-fashioned if you will, but I wish we could still easily distinguish between a manufacturer’s major models. Unfortunately, as I’ve lamented before, everything looks the same. And here– modern-day technology notwithstanding– is yet another example.
And so the theme song finishes, as I too sing: “Those were the days!”
Not One Ride Soon Enough!
It closed, it opened, and then it closed again. The word is the Golden Gate Bridge bicycle lane will reopen– hopefully for good this time– by “the beginning of April.”
More Saturdays than not so far this year, I’m one of many cyclists “forced” to brave the bridge’s narrow, crowded, east-side walkway to Marin, then later a second time when even more congested and unruly– back across to San Francisco. In a rare moment of not dodging slow-moving, seemingly oblivious, camera-snapping packs of pedestrians, I glance across lanes of traffic to an empty, lifeless west-side bikeway– not a worker in sight– spotting no visual reason as to why on a Saturday, an obvious day off from the bridge’s current repairs, this very necessary stretch should remain closed. And then it’s back to the “obstacles” ahead.
Suffice to say, the beginning of April cannot come one ride soon enough!
Driving The Past Into the Future
More captivating to me than any moment in last night’s enjoyable yet typical Oscars telecast is a commercial that preceded the show’s opening, one powerfully rich in historical presentation, striking a beautiful balance between the past and the present, while launching viewers into an exciting immediate future.
Seconds into the one-minute spot, I was riveted. As the visual timeline unfolded, I watched closely in awe, smiling all the more. By the end I was breathless, sold on the “breathtaking” item at hand. To the advertising professionals who created this piece, I applaud a job beyond well done, thankful for yet another wonderful MBZ showcase I will enjoy watching again… and again. This product indeed has a lifelong hold on me, after all.
History “drives” us into the future. True as this can be in most aspects of life, it’s certainly a very powerful advertising principle, one that always works for me no doubt. This said, the commercial is here for all you car lovers and Mercedes-Benz aficionados to enjoy as much as I do.
A First!
While never before thinking I’d say so, I’m saying it now: I’m impressed.
This is to say, my first glance has me looking twice– three or four times even– at not an Aston Martin or a Jaguar as the front-end lines might suggest, but rather at what indeed happens to be– yes, it is– a Ford sedan. This all-new 2013 Fusion quickly captured my attention, which I must say for most any Ford product is a first!
Perhaps we’re left to wonder what this evolving American automaker has in store across the board in the next few years. And no doubt this is exactly what Ford expects us to do.
Classique Du Jour
Yet another impressively well maintained, original-plated automotive classic stopped me in my pedaling tracks this morning, this one on Lake Street outside the Presidio. We’re looking here at a 1972 Cadillac Eldorado— hub caps, moldings and badges all intact– with if not its factory paint job, still very likely its original metallic color. Once again, I pause with a nod of appreciation for this “classic of the day.”
Two in One
The sightings of classic Mercedes-Benz automobiles– two of them, in one day, and in the same neighborhood that is– no doubt call out for a camera.
First we see a 1966 230 SL, followed by a 1972 250 C, both well used yet more than decently maintained. Not only are these two magnificent cars obviously still on the road, but even better– they’re both still on the road with their original license plates, thus adorning the badge that marks their true age, while allowing a California license plate numbers guy like myself to pinpoint their precise model years and months of purchase.
All in all, I say this was a terrific day to be on foot in San Francisco’s Lower Haight!
A Good Push…
Common sense continues to be disturbingly lacking, I write with a sigh. While I’ve never been a particular fan or follower of U.S. Senator Rand Paul, in this case I do strongly agree with him, I write with a smile.
The Kentucky Republican senator’s interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer following yesterday’s so-called debacle sums it up very clearly, and I’m right with him. Senator Paul should have been able to immediately pass through the scanner a second time, which would have most quickly resolved the situation– and ironically WAS the ultimate outcome– but unfortunately the needed common sense was not already in place for this to happen.
It’s not just about one little isolated incident, and this is not a case of a public figure seeking special privileges. The fact of the matter is: The TSA continues to prove itself an inefficient, unpredictable, anger-inducing and often non-sensical bureaucracy that’s very much in need of policy rethinking and revision. Senator Paul’s “debacle” this week simply shines yet another light on this delicately tolerated reality, not to mention my own recent eye-rolling experiences and observations.
While change is typically inevitable, it often needs a little push, if not several big pushes. May Senator Paul’s now-highly publicized incident serve as a good push, in addition to the hundreds of complaints per week the TSA reportedly receives. The senator’s father, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, is already “pushing” himself, but this is another story in itself. In any case, nothing will change overnight, but something will certainly change over time.
And that’s my opinion.
Ryan R. Sanderson 