Sigma USA looks to cast some light with the SIGGI, a half watt USB rechargeable bike light that features an integrated silicone strap for quick mounting to the handlebars. It offers three modes of operation and has a claimed burn time of up to 10 hours on standard mode. Unlike other lights it provides side visibility panels that emit enough light for increased safety for the rider, but without blinding other riders or drivers. Yet another bright idea.
Category: Cycling
Made in America: Chain Stay Away
Those who commute by cycle face a number of perils on the way to and from the office including cars, people not paying attention and other hazards of the road. While there are plenty of cycle friendly clothing options the bike doesn’t always play nice with nice clothing.
Grease from the chain can ruin and outfit and day, but the StaySharp Commuter Cuff from Exposed Seam will help cover up the spot where a grease spot might otherwise ruin the clothing.With these on the leg there is no reason to roll up the pant legs, and it can protect from spotting and keep the clothing out of the chain.
These are made in America of Cordura fabric and available in a range of colors. The cuff closes ithging around the ankle with Velcro and there is even a reflective panel to help with other perils of the ride home.
Weekend Reading List (12:28:2013): Party Down, Safe Stuff
Party Down
From Bicycle Retailer: Specialized workers scale down party, donate to charity instead
Specialized Bicycle employees decided to scale down their holiday party this year, and doante the excess party budget to two non-profit organizations. The employees decided in a company-wide vote about two months ago to opt for a modest office party instead of an off-site event.
In a second vote, the employees chose to donate the extra budget amount to the United Way San Jose and World Bicycle Relief. Last Thursday representatives from each organization came to Specialized headquarters to accept the donations of $15,000 each. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (12:28:2013): Party Down, Safe Stuff
Looking Retro
Didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas, or did Santa leave you a couple of bucks? How about a retro jersey? The Chainlink, the Chicago Bicycling Online Community, is offering a 100 percent Merino wool jersey that will be available only until Friday, January 3. This is your chance to get a cool jersey for spring.
Roll Like the Danish
E-bikes are often good in concept but sometimes provide assistance when you don’t need it. The other problem is that e-bikes cost a lot, and weigh a lot. Designers at MIT might have a better solution. They’ve created the Copenhagen Wheel, which gives a power assist based on the effort. This in turn allows riders to go faster and further.
The wheel can monitor effort, so when a rider struggles or pushes harder the wheel in turn provides more power. Users can also adjust the level of assistance via a mobile smartphone app. The Copenhagen Wheel even utilizes regenerative braking to get juiced up as well.
The best part however is that no special bike is needed and the Copenhagen Wheel can be used with most bikes. Video after the jump
XS Marks the Spot on the Trail
The new XS Trail RS helmet is now ready to hit the trail in America. This helmet, which was three years in development from freeride pioneer Richie Schley, is aimed at endure, trail and cross country (XC) riders. It features full inmold coverage, 22 vents plus internal air channels, a ratchet safety closure, crash-release visor and Y-clip adjustable strap system, and is offered in black, gray, blue or green in sizes S/M and M/L.
North American distribution is being handled by Gravity Cartel, and we expect to see this helmet on trails in the New Year.
Fast Lane Indeed
Mark Cavendish is fast. Known as the world’s fastest sprinter he’s penned his second book, At Speed: My Life in the Fast Lane, which chronicles his days as a “fat” kid to his winningest Tour de France sprinter. It also offers up a personal look that at his screaming fights with teammates, his rancorous contract negotiations, crushing disappointments and his often testy relationship with the media. But it also shows that for Cavendish… winning is always the cure.
Center Stage
Stages Cycling is powering up again, with an update to its mobile app and firmware on its crankarm-based power meter. This will add new features including a high-speed data analysis tool that could be useful for BMX racers and track sprinters who want to look at a very small sample of pedal stroke data. The meter, located on the left crank arm, records force and torque data 64 times per second. The data is sent via Bluetooth to the iOS app, which can then email the data in a .csv file.
The company further added pedal smoothness and torque efficiency data gathering, which can be used with Garmin’s 510 and 810 cycling computer models.
There is also new battery level features to its iOS mobile app, which when the app is connected via the Bluetooth LE wireless system will show the power meter’s battery level; when connected via the ANT+ wireless system. The app will further present a low battery warning when there is about 10 hours of battery life remaining.
The app includes a Fahrenheit/Celsius toggle to use during device calibration and a “Tools Page” that shows the meter’s calibration data and other settings.
Louis Garneau’s Holiday Gift: A $100,000 Christmas present for the Little Brothers- Friends of the Eldery
Press Release: Louis Garneau and Pierre Dion presented a cheque for $101,223 to the Little Brothers- Friends of the Elderly organization. Thanks to the record participation of the public to the Granfondo Garneau-Cascades presented by Quebecor, the amount raised represents $40,000 more than last year!
For Pascal Fournier, Director of the Little Brothers- Friends of the Eldery organization in Québec, this amount will greatly improve the help for the elderly: “The money raised will go towards the maintenance of the vacation home at St-Joseph Lake and to the development of the Little Brothers- Friends of the Elderly in the greater Quebec region. This will allow us to welcome more lonely elderly from Quebec City and surrounding area who will never again be alone.”
For Louis Garneau, organizer of the event, the funds collected are synonymous with both victory and promise kept: “Last year, I promised that we would surpass ourselves and reach greater objectives, and that’s exactly what we did! It was possible thanks to the 3,000 participants of the Granfondo and the help of our valued sponsors. I would like to express a very particular thank you to Pierre Dion, Honorary President of the 2013 edition, for his generosity and indispensable help in making this event a success. I am proud that together, we contributed to improving the life of the elderly suffering from loneliness, while practicing a sport we love.”
2014 Granfondo Garneau-Quebecor
Louis Garneau Sports and Quebecor are proud to sponsor the sixth edition of the Granfondo Garneau-Quebecor presented by Cascades, which will take place on August 10, 2014. In addition to the cycling portion, a 10 km foot race is added to the event, making even more people move.
Kinetic Gets Training Partner for Winter THAW
This month Kinetic announced that it has teamed up with training experts at Carmichael Training Systems (CTS), and this will provide cyclists who use the innovative Kinetic by Kurt trainers access to indoor training advice and coaching that can help them go the distance this winter.
The new partnership, which runs through all of next year, kicks off with a special Winter T.H.A.W. (Train Hard And Win), which includes a new Kinetic Road Machine Trainer, three months of CTS full-service coaching and a Train Right Climbing series DVD set. This also includes a 100 percent personalized training schedule, power file analysis and schedule adjustments.
Assos Brings Lighter Bibs
Some cyclists swear by bibs, and Assos is looking to ring in the New Year Year with the new s7 line, the first update to the Swiss brand’s bibs in six years. The new line, which includes four models, is designed to be lighter and features fewer seams. It has softer compression and is designed to be even more breathable, which should be ideal on those long rides next year.
Retro Replicas
Italian clothing brand is going back in time with a line of replica jerseys. These will be made in Italy with 100 percent merino wool. This is fitting as the company launched in the late 1930s with a line of homemade cycling attire. Now 80 years later the company has launched the Authentic line, and has launched an e-commerce site to sell the jerseys. We hope to see more cyclists donning these retro jerseys in the New Year.
QBP Gets Colorful
Quality Bicycle Products will let you put some color in your ride. The company has introduced the iSSI line of mountain bike pedals that will be available in eight colors next year. The iSSi pedals will be available in Bright Silver, Intense Black, Brilliant White, Hi-Vis Yellow, Hi-Vis Orange, Tru Blu, Really Red, and iSSi Pink.
“We are creating iSSi specifically to support specialty bicycle retailers,” said Jason Gaikowski, QBP director of brand design and marketing. “Pedal iSSi is competitively priced at $75 MSRP and offers dealers a healthy 50 percent margin with strong MAP and Sales policies.”