Levi’s Bike Shop Tour kicks things off this week in Portland, Ore. This mobile repair shop offers free bike tuneup services as well as an on-site to tune up worn clothing. It will head out across the country, hitting six cities with clothing, music and cycling. Continue reading Levi Goes On Tour
Author: KineticShift
Weekend Reading List (08.03.2013): Serrota Off the Road, Be the Coach, Hawk and Games
Serrota Off the Road
From Bicycle Retailer: Serotta lays off 40% of workforce, planning shutdown
Serotta has laid off 40 percent of its workforce and is planning to shut down production in the next two weeks, CEO Bill Watkins told BRAIN on Wednesday. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (08.03.2013): Serrota Off the Road, Be the Coach, Hawk and Games
Universal Mount Up
Tate Labs have followed up on their Bar Fly series of handlebar mounts for cycling computers with the new Universal Mount that can be used with a smartphone, GPS device, light or GoPro style rugged camera. The mount doesn’t actually include specific mounting hardware but instead offers a space on which to clamp the necessary accessory. It is a simple concept that could be truly universal.
[Via BikeRadar: Tate Labs Bar Fly Universal Mount – first look]
Outdoor Retailer Show: Lamp It Up
At this week’s Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City Petzl offered another bright idea with its auto-adjusting headlamp. An optical sensor can automatically measure the distance to an object and adjust the light accordingly. This headlamp can shine up to 140 lumens so you won’t be left in the dark.
Heck Yeah, a Bicycle Turn Signal
httpv://youtu.be/Uy0-qE3q_T8
Modding king Ben Heck can do anything with a solder gun and some electrical circuits. What he did recently via his Ben Heck Show webcast was to create a wearable turn signal. The video above shows how he did it!
From Car to Water – Really Quick
Why deal with a big trailer to get the boat from storage to the water, why deal with renting winter storage at all? For those who want to hit the water but don’t need the hassle of a large size boat the Quickboat could be the answer. It is reportedly the first foldable boat that that can be put together in just about a minute.
It features a five-piece construction that makes transportation and storage a snap, and once at the water snaps together quickly. Of course you can’t sleep on this one, but that’s what tents are for. Video after the jump
Look Out
California College of Art students Laurel Deel, André Luiz Dias Leal, Alex Quinones-Bangs and Guy Noren have partnered with Silicon Valley tech giant Intel to help to create a bike that provides situational awareness. The Look System Bike Helmet reportedly employs haptic feedback to alert riders of potential threats.
In other words the helmet can sense a car, or other large object, that comes in close proximity and vibrates in the object’s general direction. This gives the rider a literal “heads up” about a potential danger. Video after the jump
Speaker Up
There are a lot of rugged speakers on the market and some look ready for a warzone. That’s not a bad thing, but for those who like a more subtle look that doesn’t evoke the front lines the Panasonic SC-NT10 might just be the thing. It looks ready for the backyard, but is still splash proof, dust proof, shock proof and even freeze and heat proof.
The compact design is just right for camping and day trips to the woods. But inside it is wired for sound and much more. It is equipped with NFC (Near Field Communication) that makes Bluetooth pairing a snap, and music can be streamed from a phone or tablet. It features two full range speakers and a passive radiator to present clear audio, while the BoostMode maximizes the midrange so the music can be heard despite background noise.
Up a Creek
If you’re going to be doing any running along a river bed don’t be caught without the Creek Bed Wolverine Multi-sport shoe. It can handle its fair share of mud and water as it features a quick dry breathable mesh upper and C3 footbed that can provide traction even in wet conditions. These shoes can channel water out while fresh air circulates back in.
Ace of Spades
Last fall we heard about the Crovel Tactical shovel, which we said would be good for the end of the world, a zombie apocalypse or a mob style hit. Well, we think the AceCamp Survival Multi-Tool Shovel could give the Crovel a run for the money.
It is a shovel, a hatchet, a saw, a hammer, a wrench, a nail puller, bottle opener and compass. Inside it includes a fishing line and hook, matches, and even an emergency knife. This is a survival shovel on steroids and if civilization does come to an end we want this one in our hands. We wouldn’t mind taking it on the next outdoor adventure as well.
Taking the Edge for TT
Time trial and triathlon bikes are set up quite differently from road bikes, and this can make mounting a cycling computer a bit of an issue. Fortunately where there is a problem someone sets up with a solution. In this case it is K-Edge, which just announced the release of the TT Mount, which can accommodate Garmin’s ¼ turn interface and places the popular GPS cycling computer between the bar extensions, so riders can glance down and see the information and yet focus on the ride.
Apps Take Aim
While Apple doesn’t do those “there’s an app for that” commercials these days, here is one we wouldn’t expect them to air. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has released its new Where To Shoot mobile app — available for iPhone, iPad and Android devices — that locates shooting ranges near you.
Available for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play, Where To Shoot puts North America’s most comprehensive directory of shooting ranges in the palm of your hand. It also includes video tips for shooters, news and firearm safety information.
Users can reportedly search by current location or zip code and find specifics about each range, including shooting activities offered, accessibility and contact information. The app also makes it easy to get directions to the range.
The app is modeled after NSSF’s popular WhereToShoot.org website and is updated frequently with range information in every U.S. state and Canadian province. New tips for hunters and shooters are also added regularly.
Get on the Spot
We’ve seen the Spot Wazee in the past but have to say this year’s model with the Lotus-inspired Chapman deep green paint job with gold stripe accents once again will turn heads. This city bike features a Gates carbon drive system with a Shimano Alfine 11-speed internally geared hub, so it can handle the mean streets and get you to work in style.