Category: Cycling

Re-Cycling Your Old Bike Gear

Trips for Kids website www.tripsforkids.org (credit: Charles Simpson Photography)

Cleaning out the old bicycle parts bin always seems to start as a simple task, but can often turn into quite a dilemma. What should be kept or pitched? What has value, and what might be worth the hassle of selling on eBay or Craigslist? What has no real monetary value, but is still a functioning part that could have some use? Even for the latter, there may be an option other than the trash can for those parts and bikes that are still good, but not worth the hassle of selling. In a word: donation.

Continue reading Re-Cycling Your Old Bike Gear

New Garmin Forerunner Goes for a Swim; Ready for Kona

Sports and GPS go hand-in-hand. That is unless you’re swimming or going off to remote areas where tracking often poses a challenge. Innovations in GPS technology now make it possible to track your workouts, and races, when swimming. Garmin is among the sport watch manufacturers to leverage this new technology.

The company’s new Forerunner 910XT is a multisport watch, an all-in-one GPS-enabled device that provides detailed swim metrics and tracks distance, speed/pace, elevation and heart rate for running and cycling. The 910XT has an on-board barometric altimeter for improved elevation data.

A smooth, low profile allows for athletes to slide tight-fitting wetsuits over the watch. This makes it possible for use with water sports. It also facilitates quick outfit changes necessary for triathletes competing in races where a wetsuit or other protective and warmth gear is necessary.

(Video after the jump)

Continue reading New Garmin Forerunner Goes for a Swim; Ready for Kona

Happy Trailers to You

While gasoline prices have stabilized in the last month as the peak summer travel is now past us, bicycle cargo trailers are still increasing as riders look to bring along more stuff with them. And while bicycle commuting has also reportedly fallen this year, there is no denying that bike cargo trailer use is increasing.

“In today’s economic climate, people have started to realize that it just makes economic sense to ride a bike when possible, instead of spending money on gas and car maintenance,” say the experts at Bicycletrailers.com. “People want to save money – while also doing something that is good for the environment.” Continue reading Happy Trailers to You

Bianchi launches the new BlackBerry App

We noted last month that Bianchi launched an Android app, which followed the release of an app for the iPhone and iPad. Now BlackBerry users can get in on the action from the Italian bike manufacturer, which has announced a new version for the Research in Motion handset.

BlackBerry App main features are:

- surfing on the whole Bianchi range with itemized images and technical features
– on-time news and update by Bianchi official web site
– updatings posted directly on Twitter and highlighted on the App’s homepage with a provided push notification box
– dealers area with geolocation research system

As with the Android and iPhone versions, this free to download app offers users the ability to surf the whole Bianchi range of products with itemized images and technical features, news and updates from the official Bianchi website and geolocation search so users can easily find the closest Bianchi dealer. And of course it also features the Celeste green.

Bianchi Official Website
Bianchi App at BlackBerry App World

Galaxy on the Go

File this under strange tablet accessory – a holder for the Samsung Galaxy Tab, which allows the tablet computer to be tucked under the top tube. But look again, that isn’t a holder that attaches to the bike, because it is actually the bike itself.

Samsung is rolling out a branded bike that puts the tablet between your legs so you can take it on the go, making it the perfect accessory for the urban hipster. Continue reading Galaxy on the Go

Made in America: Aero Tech Designs

Descente, Bike Nashbar, Terry Precision, Head and Giant are familiar names in cycling apparel, but a name you may not be familiar with is Aero Tech Designs, Inc. of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. For over 25 years these companies, along with many others, have contracted with Aero Tech Designs to design and manufacture cycling apparel – all happening from their facility in this Pittsburgh suburb.

Founded by Cathy Schnaubelt Rogers, an avid cyclist and former racer herself, Aero Tech Designs prides itself on not only producing cycling apparel in the U.S.A., but also sourcing all of the raw material from domestic suppliers. The 10mm Italian inspired chamois is American made; the fabric is knit domestically in South Carolina; the thread is from American company Efrid of North Carolina – even the paper labels are printed locally in a domestic paper facility. Materials are brought together and assembled in Coraopolis by American workers. The company then sells the goods under the Aero Tech Design name.

(Video after the jump) Continue reading Made in America: Aero Tech Designs

G-Form Goes Stealth with Padding

Some sports require protective gear. Said protective gear is often awkward due to its bulkiness, stiffness and other restraints from the movement of the sport at hand. Rhode Island-based G-Form has impact absorbing protection gear that goes on soft but turns stiff like armor when the pressure of an impact is experienced. Continue reading G-Form Goes Stealth with Padding

Quirky New Bike: Modus

In just 24-hours a new bike was created with the input of people on the internet. The “Quirky Moneyball Project” was a collaboration between crowd source invention company Quirky and Columbia Pictures in promotion of the new film Moneyball.

You might think that the promotion would be to build a better bat or baseball cleats. The challenge for Quirky however, was to develop and build a new bicycle in just 24 hours. The collaboration included input from the Quirky design team with the healp of Oakland A’s fans, film enthusiasts and the Quirky global community.

Video after the jump

Continue reading Quirky New Bike: Modus

Ford Unveils Radical Bike Concept With Formula One Tech

The big auto shows—Detroit, L.A., Tokyo, Geneva, etc.—are where car manufacturers show-off dreamy, almost-out-of-this world concepts; many will never make it into production, while some will morph into practical variants, but they showcase the direction a carmaker is taking and new technologies it is using.  These concepts tend to be of the four-wheel variety, however, Ford’s newly unveiled vehicle at the Frankfurt Motor Show this month isn’t what’s usually shown on the show floor.

Behold Ford’s beautiful E-Bike Concept. It has the recognizable two-wheel frame of a traditional bicycle, yet it has lines and accents that evoke a modern car. According to Ford, the E-Bike is an exercise in translating Ford’s “design language” to a bicycle and demonstrating “Ford’s electric mobility competence.” Ford recognizes major growth in the electric bicycle market and sees e-bikes as a major part of urban transport in the future.  Continue reading Ford Unveils Radical Bike Concept With Formula One Tech

Sweat-proof Wallet Ready for Ride Along

The days of stuffing your pocket with your ID and emergency cash are over thanks to this low-profile wallet. Designed by Timbuk2 in conjunction with the Mission Cycling Club, the Mission Cycling Wallet is an athlete’s best friend. It’s thin and small enough to slide into a jersey pocket, but packs enough slots and storage for carrying cash, credit cards, ID, and even your smartphone.

The front panel features a clear window that lets you operate your touchscreen phone, whereas the wallet’s back panel houses numerous slots for your cards and ID. As an added bonus, a sealed zipper offers protection from excess sweat or the rogue rain shower while a small slot gives you access to your phone’s headphone jack.

Timbuk2 Official Website
[via The Gear Caster: Way Better Than a Ziploc Bag]

Interbike Partners With RTC For 2012 Viva Bike Vegas Gran Fondo

Don’t plan on flying home at the end of Interbike next year. For the 31st annual bicycle trade show you might want to stay the weekend and line up a bike to ride. Interbike’s organizers has announced that the trade show will partner next year with the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) to bring more bicycle industry participation, in the form of sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, to the RTC 2012 Viva Bike Vegas Gran Fondo.

The 2012 edition of Interbike will be held September 17-21, and the RTC 2012 Viva Bike Vegas Gran Fondo will take place immediately following the show on Saturday, Sept. 22. Continue reading Interbike Partners With RTC For 2012 Viva Bike Vegas Gran Fondo

Interbike 2011: Kinetic Exhibitors

At Interbike this year, we at KineticShift.com couldn’t help but notice all the exhibitors with “Kinetic” in the name.

Kinetic by Kurt makes indoor trainers for your bike so you can keep pedaling through the winter. Kinetic’s Rock and Roll model takes some of the tedium out of the stationary bike conundrum by allowing for the bike to move or rock from side to side. It’s set up like any other trainer that connects to your rear wheel. Where the Rock and Roll differs, however, is that most trainers keep your bike stationary and unmovable. The Rock and Roll rocks your bike from side to side as you pedal. A Turntable Riser Ring holds your front wheel and lets you turn the bike as if you’re steering around a curve.

Since both wheels remain on the bike, expect your tires to get a certain amount of wear from a season on the trainer. More accurately, expect your tires to get a wear spot or bald spot from where the front tire sits, and the rear tire will get wear from friction where the tire rubs on the trainer. Because of this Kinetic by Kurt recommends using Trainer Tires. These indoor trainer tires are from Kinetic by Kenda.

Video after the jump: Continue reading Interbike 2011: Kinetic Exhibitors