There always seems to be that guy who mounts a boombox or other stereo on his bike so the world can enjoy some music. Sadly most of the time this just means that it becomes a portable way to annoy the world, and with the speakers pointed off the side and behind the rider, probably don’t provide the best sound for the one who wants to hear it most. Then there are those people who seem to think that headphones and a bike on the open road mix.
Handlebar speakers are probably the better bet, and the 3D Surround Music Box, which retails for around $58, is designed to provide some tunes for the person doing the pedaling, while still allowing the world to be heard – and also not have to be subjected to a massive boombox of someone else’s music. It features just 2watts per channel but is enough to hear the music clearly with a frequency response of 120Hz to 20KHz, and is posed by just three AA batteries. Without batteries it adds about 355grams but that’s a small amount for a personal stereo! Additional images
While bicycle design has changed over the years, suspending of a piece of leather on a metal frame is one of the oldest forms of a bicycle saddle and still one of the best. The tension of the leather can be made tighter or looser by the turn of a screw, and the use of thick leather creates a ‘saddle’ that can often outlive the rider. Selle An-Atomica of Elkhorn, WI has taken this idea and created a line of bicycle saddles that uses a thick, suspended piece of leather, but cut a slot in the middle to make a ‘anatomic’ version of this classic saddle design.
The use of wood in the construction of bike components is as old as the ‘safety bicycle’ or what we know of as the modern frame layout. Throughout the years, wood has been pushed aside by chromoly, aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber and even bamboo as a preferred component material, but it is not completely gone. Wood is actually starting to reappear in the bicycle industry, though mostly by small component manufacturers looking for a unique niche in the sea of carbon fiber and modern materials. Paul Sykes of Portland, Oregon is one such individual who is bringing wood back to bicycles with his component company, Sykes Wood Fenders.
Madison Avenue is a long ways from Detroit, and that might be the first thought that comes to mind as the Detroit Bicycle Company has released the very posh Madison Street Bike. Starting at $3,200 and up for a complete bike, this single-speed/fixie is something you’d pretty much expect to be found on Madison Avenue in NYC.
Winter is coming, and for bicycle commuters that means either having cold ears or trying to fit a cap under a typical cycling helmet. But Bern has another solution, as noted by our friends at BikeRadar. At Interbike, while it was still warm and mostly sunny, the helmet maker showed off its line of winter-friendly brain buckets, which are now available.
While the new Carbon Pro Team cycling shoes from Louis Garneau will be available in red and black when they hit stores in January we think they could help riders such as Thomas Voeckler, who will be wearing these next season, get in yellow!
Touring around the U.S. to see all of the MLB stadiums, NFL stadiums or college stadiums is certainly not a new concept. For years people have been making a pilgrimage to these houses of sporting worship, but most do not even get to step on the playing field of their heroes. Cycling is on of those sports that fans can actually ride on the same “playing field” as the pros if they are willing to guide themselves, learn enough of the local language to communicate with the locals and unfortunately battle traffic. Knowing that fans want to ride on the same course as the pros, numerous touring companies have cropped up offering cyclists to opportunity to ride the famous courses of their heroes. Sometimes even on the same day as the pro race, just hours in front of the peleton, and be fully supported with guide services, food and accommodations. Seeing an opportunity of their own to diversify their business, the bike company Cervélo, has teamed up with the touring company, Butterfield & Robinson Management Inc., to create the Cervélo Pro Travel Experience.
Even if a bike is just for commuting the Italians know you should look good going and getting there. To this end Italian luxury goods designer Gucci is rolling out a bicycle with Italian bike maker Bianchi. The result is a Gucci branded road machine that will feature plenty of style for commuters, and a helmet to match.
Part bike, part scooter and part concept, the Scoobike combines the push of a scooter with the pedal power of a bike, resulting in a very strange device. This is the brainchild of Archyaska Amy – not to be confused with