Category: Cycling

ROTOR Q-Ring Rode to Victory

Clearly Johan Van Summeren knows how to pick good equipment. We noted earlier this week he was wearing the Castelli SpeedSuit and now ROTOR has noted that the Paris-Roubaix winner pedalled his way on the French cobblestones with 3D+ cranks and Q-Ring oval chainrings!

ROTOR stated:

“Q-Ring has now conquered one of the toughest races in the world, the ‘Hell of the North.’ This is certainly a coming of age for our groundbreaking, proprietary oval chainring technology.

“Cobblestone sectors are always a threat to drivetrain reliability, so perfect shifting and stability are required to traverse them successfully. This huge victory on the pave proves that Q-rings performance advantages come at no cost to reliability, with stability on a par with round chainrings thanks to our subtle ovalization, flawless tooth profiles and highly refined shifting ramp designs.” Continue reading ROTOR Q-Ring Rode to Victory

Wall of Bikes – For Storage

Many of us have a “wall of bikes” in our garage, basement or extra room. As apartment dwellers know, using the wall saves a lot of room. So how about using the outside wall of an apartment building or office structure for a wall of bikes?

This is the idea behind a Ferris-wheel design by Manifesto Architecture, which was submitted to a recent design competition in Seoul, South Korea. The result would be vertical bike storage that could hold 20 to 35 bikes. The bikes would be rotated up and out of the way. So instead of needing to take nearly an entire floor to store the bikes, they could be lifted up and out of the way in a space in an alley or rear of the building.

The issue of course is that many cities – including New York – don’t actually have an abundance of alleyways – despite what Batman comics might otherwise suggest. But there are plenty of nooks and other spaces. And this would certainly make good use of every inch of urban space.

And the designers even thought of worst case scenarios – such as a power failure. The Ferris-wheel system could even be cycle powered, so you have to sit and spin to get to your bike!

[Via Cyclelicious: Bike Hanger vertical bicycle storage]

Visit New Amsterdam Bicycle Show

New York, originally called New Amsterdam, will play host to the New Amsterdam Bicycle Show on April 30, later this month. The event benefits Transportation Alternatives.

If you’re in New York at the end of the month, it will be worth attending to check out new bikes and gear. Exhibitors include Adeline Adeline, Alternate Needs Transportation, bcycle, Bern Unlimited, bfold, Bamboo Bike Studio, Basil, Bicycle Habitat, BicyclePaintings.com, Bike By Me, Bike Doctor NYC, Light & Motion, Bikes to Rwanda, biomega, Biria, Bowery Lane Bicycles, Carjacked, Chelsea Bicycles, Chrome, Continuum Cycles, Cooper Bikes USA, cyclelogical and plenty more. Big names such as Specialized, Raleigh, Sram, Jamis, and others will also exhibit.

The show will be held at Center 548 on West 22nd Street way over by the Hudson. Check out the New Amsterdam Bicycle Show site for more details.

Seal of Approve To Puncture Resistant Tubes

Nothing can ruin a nice ride in the woods like a puncture. If you’re like too many riders that could mean having to walk back to the car, or worse home as you probably didn’t bring a spare. But Michelin’s new Protek Max inner tubes could actually change this, offering a tube that promises to be more resistant to punctures and could hold air pressure if punctured!

The Protek Max features a “bumpy” service that creates a compressive force in the tube wall, and thus doesn’t want to stretch when there is a puncture. Instead with a small puncture there is compression, and thus the tube will retain its tire pressure and not lose air – at least not so quickly.

The Protek tubes will be available in 700×35-47c and 26×1.4-2.125-inch sizes, and will retail for $8.99. Both Presta and Scharder will be available – but sorry, for now it will be those who venture off road who will get the puncture-free treatment. Hopefully we’ll see a road version down the road.

Michelin Bicycle USA Protek Max Official Website

[Via BikeRadar.com: Michelin’s new Wild Race’R tire and Protek Max inner tube]

SpeedSuit Up From Castelli

This past weekend Johan Van Summeren won the famous Paris-Roubaix road race. No doubt he won it with his legs and his absolute effort, but as our friends at BikeRadar.com noted this week the suit may have made the man in the famous race on French cobblestones.

And obviously this wasn’t a suit and tie, but rather a SpeedsSuit from Castelli, which is the uniform material of choice for the Garmin-Cervelo riders, who first wore it in last month’s Milan-San Remo. As BikeRadar noted, “Castelli claim the suit can save 10-15 watts at 40 km/h, and it seemed to do the trick for Van Summeren. It’ll be used exclusively by the peloton this season, but is set to be made available to the masses in 2012.”

So in other words most of us will have to settle to seeing others wear it this season, but next see it will time to SpeedSuit up!

[Via BikeRadar.com: Did Castelli SpeedSuit help Van Summeren win Paris-Roubaix?]

Cool It Down in Hotter Weather

As warmer temperatures replace cooler ones, you have different reasons to cover up. In between seasons like spring and fall call for transitional layers. Arm warmers and leg warmers are good options since you can peel off the layers when you warm up.

In the summer heat, there’s no option to add or remove layers to beat the heat. That is unless you pull on one of Craft Apparel’s Body Control Coolers. While they have other garments, the arm coolers and leg coolers are a good choice. The Body Control Coolers feature a compression fit, super-cooling fabrics, silver ion technology and sun protection. Continue reading Cool It Down in Hotter Weather

Cycle Goes Round

Bicycles have lots of round parts. There are obviously the wheels, but there are the chain rings, cassette, hubs and in many cases, even the tubes are round. But Lou Tortola, an avid cyclist who put in more than 3000 miles on his road bike last year, has another idea. The inventor and entrepreneur from Windsor, Canada has created a revolutionary bicycle frame design that he says will increase comfort, while retaining lateral stiffness and pedaling efficiency of the standard diamond frame bicycles.

The result is the Roundtail, which he says should provide more shock absorbing than traditional straight seat stays.

Tortola uses his computer to draft up a prototype of the twin ring design, and with his years of experience in metals and fabrication produced tooling to test his concept. Custom bike builder Paul Taylor helped bring the Roundtail to life.

The bike made its debut at the San Diego Custom Bicycle Show this past weekend. Titanium and carbon fiber versions, with mountain bike and hybrid models will be available later this year at Interbike.

Roundtail Official Website

Bike Industry Magic – Merlin Brand Rebirth Underway

Apparently I have been living under a rock lately, but it appears that one of the first manufacturers of titanium bicycle frames has been sold…again. Back in March the high-end online retailer, Competitive Cyclist of Little Rock, AR, announced that they had negotiated the rights to the Merlin Metalworks from the American Bicycle Group (ABG) based in Chattanooga, TN

Merlin has changed hands multiple times since it was founded in 1986 by Gwyn Jones, Gary Helfrich, and Mike Augspurger in Cambridge, MA followed a year later with the partnership with Tom Kellogg. Back then they were one of the first manufacturers to create titanium bicycle and wheelchair frames using TIG welding to create small, uniform and aesthetically pleasing welds.Merlin has created frames that have been ridden by Lance Armstrong, Greg LeMond, Steve Hegg, Ken Carpenter, Rob Kish (Race Across America 1995 winner) and Bob Hall (the first person to enter the Boston marathon in a wheelchair). Continue reading Bike Industry Magic – Merlin Brand Rebirth Underway

The Lutsen 99er Mountain Bike Race in Minnesota

Just one mile shy of a century, A new mountain bike race in Minnesota, the Lutsen 99er, will take its course along the shores of Lake Superior on Saturday, June 11. The race, organized by Life Time Fitness, aims to promote mountain biking both nationally and in Minnesota.

The crushing 99 mile racecourse starts at Lutsen Mountain’s Bridge Run, then takes participants along the shores of Lake Superior before climbing into the Sawtooth Mountains. Just following the ridgeline, the course takes advantage of glacially-sculpted terrain and rolling hills of the Boreal Forest. Cross the finish line in front of Papa Charlie’s at Lutsen Mountain. Continue reading The Lutsen 99er Mountain Bike Race in Minnesota

Trimble Updates AllSport GPS Apps for Android

Trimble released new versions of its AllSport GPS app for the Android Market. This includes AllSport GPS Pro ($3.99) and AllSport GPS (free). The programs collect more than 20 fitness stats and calculate calories burned to help people reach their fitness goals. AllSport GPS apps track 14 outdoor fitness activities including running, cycling, skiing and walking. The apps also let you access real-time weather forecasts, chart workouts over time, and view street and park maps.

Continue reading Trimble Updates AllSport GPS Apps for Android

Orange is an Apple to Our Eye

While Americans may know British autos such as Mini Cooper (now owned by Germany’s BMW), Land Rover and Rolls Royce, most probably don’t know Orange Bikes. Over the years I’ve spent enough time in the UK to know and appreciate the company’s dedication to unique hand built bicycles.

Orange has not made much – if any – impact in the United States and that’s a shame. So it is unlikely that any Yanks will be among those riding the (very) limited edition Five Pro Blackout. With only 25 reportedly being made, the Blackout is a true black beauty that might just seem mythical – even in the UK, most riders will probably never see on. The bike will come outfitted with Hope Tech X2 components, with an option to upgrade to Hope Tech M4 SE. Neither option will come cheap, and the bike will reportedly retail for around $4900.

But more importantly, will the bike make its appearance on this side of the Pond? Only if someone here is very lucky.

[Via Bike Rumor: ORANGE BIKES (VERY) LIMITED EDITION FIVE PRO BLACKOUT]

Orange Mountain Bikes Official Website

Giro Makes Us All Lightheaded

If a helmet’s aim is to protect your head in a crash, it’s goal is to provide ventilation and be lightweight. Following the introduction of the Specialized Prevail at Interbike last fall, Giro just announced its Aeon performance road helmet. This one was introduced over the weekend at the Tour of Flanders. The Aeon weighs in at 222 grams (size medium), 28 percent lighter than comparable helmets such as the lonos and close in weight to the Prolight. Continue reading Giro Makes Us All Lightheaded

Audi Sports ‘Wood’

Bicycles and automobiles are more intertwined that you may think. Several automobile manufacturers were actually started as bicycle manufacturers or key players dabbled with bicycles before becoming involved with automobiles. The now defunct Pierce-Arrow Motor Corporation started as a bicycle manufacturer and Carlo Maserati got his start in engines while working at a bicycle manufacturer near Milan, Italy. In recent year, Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, Cadillac and Mercedes have lauched their own line of bicycles to more than likely capture additional revenue after they have sold an automobile. The new car owner can buy the hat, jacket, pen, sunglasses…why not the bike? Saab was clever and sold a Saab bicycle that was folding so that it could fit inside your car just in case you could not park near your final destination. Most of the modern bicycles offered by automobile manufacturers are in reality designed and built by bicycle manufacturers. It is possible that the car company designs the bikes and specs the components, but they certainly are not making them. Continue reading Audi Sports ‘Wood’