Category: Cycling

Loeka Women’s Cycling Clothier Starts Recycling Program

It’s hard to let go of that loved cycling jersey, or the shorts with the perfect padding. If you recycle the garments, they really are going to a better place … back on the trails. Women’s mountain biking label Loeka Clothing just started a clothing recycling program that gives incentive to those who turn in their gear for recycling.

Loeka started manufacturing women’s mountain biking apparel in 2005; just enough time that the clothes might be showing just a little wear, or you might want to switch it up for a new design. Fill out a form on Loeka’s website and either mail in your gear or take it to a participating retailer. Retailers currently include Ruckus Skis, Boards and Bikes in Prince George BC; Ski Dazzle at Silverstar Resort; Mt Washington Alpine Resort, Mt Washington BC; Pedal Chic Greenville, South Carolina; and Iride Vermont, Stowe, Vermont.

Continue reading Loeka Women’s Cycling Clothier Starts Recycling Program

Bike Android from Pioneer

Gadget blogs are buzzing — or should we say spinning their wheels — about an Android-based cyclocomputer in development by Pioneer. It wasn’t openly on display at CES earlier this month, and Pioneer doesn’t have anything posted on its US or Japan sites, however this video from DigInfo has an interview with one of the developers in Japan and some operational footage of the unit itself.

It will measure the typical speed, distance and cadence. Expect it also to have navigation and other typical read outs. A sensor on the crank, or pedaling meter will measure the force vectors of their left and right feet on the pedals and crank.

The computer will be Ant+ compliant, which is a wireless sensor network solution, so it will be able to talk to other devices. We expect for starters it will talk to your Android-based phone.

Last summer Apple filed a patent for a cycling app, though there haven’t been any announcements on when that will come out or if it will have even half of the functionality of this Pioneer computer.

via [Engadget and Android Fanatic]

NAIAS: Smart Shows its Ebike

At the North American International Auto Show, also referred to as the Detroit Auto Show, Daimler’s smart ebike concept bike was on display. We wrote about the bike last fall when electric car manufacturer smart planned to display it at the 2010 Paris Auto Show. We thought it was worth showing again now that we got to take a look at it, and find out more details.

It’s a striking bike. The simple modified triangle design looks futuristic. While it looks light, it weighs in at approximately 50 lbs. With a full charge, the bike has about a 50 mile range though that varies on how much you use the electricity versus pedaling. There’s four modes of electric assist that seem to kick in as needed rather than controlled by the rider. At 50 lbs. I can see wanting the assist more often than on any of my current bikes, especially when faced with a hill. You recharge the battery slightly when you brake, so you can squeeze a few more miles to a ride if you’re strategic. Continue reading NAIAS: Smart Shows its Ebike

Koyono Pushes Biking to Work

As a former resident of New York City, I’ve had the occasion to be bike to work from time to time, and apart from the traffic, there are issues of staying clean and not showing up a big sweaty mess. Fortunately I had a place to change, and a safe place to stash my bike.

But one issue remained, if I had to bring work home – or ever needed to bring a laptop, it meant trouble. I was a commuter not a bike messenger, and thus I didn’t have the right gear. How the times have changed. Koyono is one of several retailers offering new bike friendly accessories.

We had seen some of the new offerings – such as Timbuk2’s line of cycle friendly bags – at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show. All this makes almost makes me wish I could commute to work (instead of being one of those work from home types), but only almost!

Check out the commuter friendly gear at Koyono.com

Fitness Journal: Let It Roll With the Tru-Trainer

If you are familiar with cycling, you are probably familiar with the training device called ‘rollers’. Rollers are a very simple training aid consisting of three aluminum or plastic drums which the rider can only maintain their balance while riding. If they cyclist stops pedaling, they fall over. This might sound a bit dangerous and unnerving to learn, but if you can master riding rollers, not only will you get a physical workout, your handling and pedaling efficiency will greatly improve.

Even though there are many manufacturers who make rollers, they have remained virtually unchanged for decades until recently. TruTrainer rollers, manufactured by CycleDyne LLC in Brownsburg, Indiana, claim that their rollers have the closest feel and feedback to actually riding on the road. The secret to their rollers is the drum furthest to the rear is actually a flywheel. The only real visual difference between TruTrainer rollers and others on the market is the second drive belt connecting the two rear rollers. Continue reading Fitness Journal: Let It Roll With the Tru-Trainer

Shimano Ultegra To Go Electronic in 2012?

Our friends at BikeRadar.com noted that rumors are circulating that Shimano might introduce electronic shifting for its stepdown Ultegra group. This follows reports from various blogs that the group would come out in 2012. BikeRadar followed up on the story, but so far it just remains very much something that is only spinning round in the rumor mill. Dare we say that the electronic Ultegra is just vaporware at this point?

For now riders can use electronic shifting with the Dura-Ace Di2 (Digital Integrated Intelligence), and there is certainly nothing wrong with it. As has been noted, it has received acclaim from racers, riders and the press. The downside is that the shifting system will have you shifting a lot of money in the process, as in more than $3,000.

So unless you want the absolute best, and need it to be electronic, you’ll have to do the non-electronic shifting in 2011.

[Via BikeRadar.com: Is electronic Shimano Ultegra on the horizon?]

Shimano Dura-Ace Official Website

Double Triple Bypass… say what?

For the past 22 years Team Evergreen Bicycle Club has been putting on the Triple Bypass one Saturday every July. This one-day ride is 120 miles starting in Evergreen, Colorado and ending in Avon, Colorado, just west of Vail. The 120 miles may not sound tough, but the riders must cross three mountain passes before arriving in Avon – Juniper/Squaw, 11,140 feet; Loveland, 11,990 feet; and finally Vail, 10,560. The total climbing is 10,600 feet.

On the plus side, this ride is very well supported with five aid stations, signs along the way, detailed maps, Colorado Highway Patrol, SAG wagons and even a post-ride dinner. Continue reading Double Triple Bypass… say what?

Trips For Kids Founder Honored With Community Leadership Award

Last week the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN) announced that has chosen Marilyn Price to receive a 2010 PCFSN Community Leadership Award. This award is given annually to individuals who improve the lives of individuals within their community by providing or enhancing opportunities to engage in sports, physical activities, fitness or nutrition-related programs. Marilyn Price, a longtime bicycle enthusiast founded Trips for Kids (TFK) in 1986, to help at-risk youth through mountain bike rides and Earn-a-Bike programs.

“It is our pleasure to present this award to Marilyn Price,” says Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. “Physical activity and good nutrition are important components of living a healthy lifestyle, and we are pleased to recognize individuals like Marilyn Price who are committed to making a difference and positively influencing the health of their communities.”

This year, the President’s Council presented the Community Leadership Award to 28 individuals across the country for making sports, physical activity, fitness, and nutrition-related programs available in their communities.

President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Official Website

Trips for Kids Official Website

Adidas Will Have You Looking and Seeing Good and Evil at the Same Time

Want to give someone the evil eye? Now you can give the look while sporting the look, thanks to the new Adidas Evil Eye Glasses Halfrim Pro, the latest in the line of Evil Eye line.

Our friends at BikeRadar.com announced that the company has released these new glasses that feature a reduced-frame design made from durable flexible SPX materials. The glasses further feature a removable sweat blocker that will keep the salty stuff out of your eyes. The glasses offer adjustable from nose pads and temples, so each wearer will get a snug fit. Continue reading Adidas Will Have You Looking and Seeing Good and Evil at the Same Time

Fitness Journal: Is Cycling a Pain in Your Rear?

Are you an avid cyclist or just starting to ride your bike for fun and exercise? Is your rear end sore when you are finished and keeping you from riding your bike more often? You do not have to take this pain sitting down. After you have adjusted your seat, changed your seat to one that is more comfortable and even upgraded to a good pair of padded cycling shorts, your soreness may still exist especially on longer rides. A product that you may want to try is chamois cream.

Chamois cream was originally used to soften up  and preserve the leather chamois pad used in cycling shorts, but with the advent of synthetic materials, this cream is now used to battle a sore rear end. Now there are many different choices on the market, but they all  offer the same claims…skin lubricant and anti-friction. Some other claims may include anti-fungal, anti-bacteria, chamois conditioning, anti-saddle sore and more. Unfortunately, there is no clear choice to recommend as each offers a different batch of ingredients and will react differently with each user. Continue reading Fitness Journal: Is Cycling a Pain in Your Rear?