Spike the Bike

Currently in development through a Kickstarter project the BikeSpike is being designed as a bicycle GPS that could also offer automatic crash reporting. This small gizmo features a GPS chipset with a built-in antenna, on-board accelerometer and a connection to a global cellular network.

This could allow users to pinpoint the exact location of a bicycle via the web or through a mobile smartphone, and aid law enforcement in recovering a stolen bike. It this way it could digitally lock a bicycle and notify owners if the bike has left its location, or even if it has just fallen or been disturbed. In the event of a crash or collision that is detected by the on-board accelerometer the BikeSpike could contact those on a pre-selected list so that help can be on its way. Video after the jump

DORA Explores Helmet Design

Dora the Explorer would probably be inspired by Balazs Ficzer’s DORA helmet, which while still only a concept could be the future of helmets. It features front and rear LED lights as well as turn signals. The video below shows some other things that the DORA – the helmet not the cartoon girl – might be able to do. Video after the jump

Looking to Be Common

Protecting the environment and finding new uses for old things shouldn’t be rare, it should be commonplace and that’s just what Rareform Surfboard Bags are looking to do. We first heard about this company last fall, and now it has gone from concept to reality. The Los Angeles business is up and running and with surf season’s waves picking up we decided it was time to remind our readers about this company.

Rareform is a company that upcycles used products – in this case vinyl often reclaimed from billboards – and this makes each of its surfboard bags totally unique. These are made of UV-, hat-, water and mildew-resistant tarpaulin along with a quarter inch of foam padding so the board inside will be protected. The bags feature a mesh interior pocket, plus a 600D polyester nose protection, and even come with a removable shoulder strap. We expect these Rareform bags to be commonplace very soon.

Rareform Surfboard Bags Official Website

Desk Work(Out)

We have seen quite a few desk-based fitness solutions that incorporate a treadmill or cycle trainer in the mix. We know it is good to keep fit and that too much sitting isn’t good for you, which is why Professor Jim Martin, a specialist in exercise science at the University of Utah, has created the Active Desk. He is currently trying to launch his project through the crowd sourcing site Rocket Hub.

This one utilizes a recumbent trainer and is focused on a more casual burning of calories – about 300 to 800 through gentle pedaling. The advantage with Martin’s design is that users can keep the legs moving without the need to worry about losing balance or tripping – as could happen with the various treadmill-based designs. This design instead lets users sit back and just go through the motions in a very good way. Video after the jump

Kinetic(Mis)Shift: Stealth Bicycle

Sometimes we see things and wonder if there is really a need. In the case of the Invisible Bike, which was designed by creator Jimmy Kuehnie, we almost didn’t see it. While not technically invisible, the bike is made of transparent “bullet proof glass.” Only the chains, bearings, and wheels can actually be seen.

We like the idea of concept bikes as much as anyone else, but we think there remains a problem that most drivers have a hard enough time seeing us on bikes. Why should we give them any help?

Jimmy Kuehnle Official Website

Made in America: All That Glitters

From a company like Shinola we’d expect a shinny bike and they didn’t let us down. The Detroit revival company that is known for its quality watches has also taken pride in making quality bicycles. To commemorate its new business the company has introduced a one-off, brass-plated work of art. The Runwell frame was built at the Waterford Precision Cycles in Wisconsin and then brass plated in Detroit. While it isn’t for sale it shows that the company truly knows style.

Shinola Official Website

Surf Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky is rather far from the ocean and quite a bit above sea level as well. It is really more known as horse country than surf country, but a new exercise center in its download is letting some feel like they’re catching the waves – even if they never get wet in the process.

Surfset Lexington offers fitness courses that are based on riding a surfboard, utilizing a device called a RipSurfer X. A 45-minute workout can reportedly burn 500 to 850 calories. Sessions cost around $20 but no trip to the beach is necessary!

[Via Kentucky.com: Surfboard-focused fitness center opens in downtown Lexington]

Head Mounted Camera

We’ve seen a number of helmet mounted cameras, but the Lobster X can be worn directly on the head sans helmet. This South Korean developed action camera puts the electronics in flexible silicone strap that can be attached directly to the wearer’s head. This could allow runners, surfers and other athletes who don’t don a helmet to get that first person perspective. The only question we have is what this has to do with a lobster?

Lobster-X Official Website

Cyclist Radar

Often times when a car hits a cyclist the driver claims that the bicycle came out of nowhere or just wasn’t seen. Imagine if the car had some form of radar that could help detect riders and react! Well, that’s exactly what Volvo has introduced with its update to the pedestrian detection system, which features a full auto brake trigger.

The pedestrian system has been in place since 2010, but now will alert drivers and react to bicycles as well. If an imminent impact with a rider or pedestrian is detected the driver will receive a red warning flash while the car will activate full breaking power. The technology will be available in the V40, S60, V60, XC60, V70, XC70 and S80 from mid-May 2013. Video after the jump

Brain Bucket Indeed

Helmets are often called brain buckets, but the SMART is actually a cycling helmet that is pretty darn smart. While still under development via an Indiegogo project, its developers hope to create a cycling helmet with an integrated heart rate sensor.

Instead of wearing a heart rate monitor strap this system would provide real time, accurate monitoring via a sensor located in the helmet. This same type of sensors are currently used by fighter pilots and astronauts, and the developers have placed these in a Lazer Genesis helmet. The information gathered by the SMART sensor can be sent in real time to a mobile phone, sports watch or cycling computer via ANT+ and Bluetooth. Video after the jump

Light Stem

We’ve seen many bicycle stems that claim to be lightweight but there is one new stem that promises to lite it up instead. The StemLite is – as the name suggests – a handlebar stem with a built-in light. This ensures that riders will have a light, which can’t easily be stolen or lost. It also frees riders of needing to worry about a handlebar mounted system, not to mention the bulky battery pack.

Credit this innovation to the advances in LED technology. The StemLite utilizes 10 Nichia LEDs that combined can cast about 500 lumens on high mode. If that’s too much there is also a 300 lumen low mode, and even a flashing mode. The system is powered by just three AA batteries, with up to 12 hours per charge on high and 21 hours on low. The developers are now raising funds to bring out the StemLite via a Kickstarter project.

We’ve said it before, but this sounds like a bright idea. Video after the jump

Sensor Packed Ball

Last week we reported on a soccer ball that can harness energy from play. The 94Fifty practice basketball from InfoMotion Sports Technologies can’t do that but it can provide a variety of feedback data and help coaches and players determine what part of the game might need some work.

The ball can reportedly measure various factors such as how accurately and quickly a player is shooting, the quality of the backspin, the amount of arc on a shot and even the force and speed of a dribble. All this can be used to help players improve their game. The ball is equipped with a Bluetooth transmitter and can work in conjunction with a companion app.

The ball isn’t ready for the court just yet, but the inventors have launched a Kickstarter campaign and hope to have players dribbling with it very soon. Video after the jump

Truly Lightweight Commuter Bike

There have been many attempts to create a lightweight commuter bike, but few have come close to Germany’s PG-Bikes BlackBraid Fixed. At just 11 pounds it is about as light as they come. This bike features a carbon fiber frame, belt drive and includes just a front brake.

One’s wallets might be a whole lot lighter to ride it however, as this bike reportedly costs around $20,000. Apparently you can put a price on less weight.

PG-Bikes Official Website