Cycling | Evolving Consumer

Get in the Skin(Suit)

While many people might not feel comfortable in their skin, who wouldn’t feel good in the Louis Garneau Course Skin Suit, which offers an aerodynamic efficiency for cyclists? The one-piece suit actually resembles a jersey and short but provides the convenience of a full zippered front and three floating back pockets. It has a minimal number of seams, pre-shaped shoulders and lazer-finished transition to the skin.

This suit was worn by Team Europcar in the Tour de France, where it proved aero enough for time trials but breathable enough for the warm mountain stages.

Louis Garneau Course Skin Suit Official Website

Most Foldable Bike Yet

There are no shortages of folding bikes to be seen at shows such as Interbike and the market is growing as commuters look for options that allow a bike to be brought safely indoors. The FUBi is no mere folding bike but one that could be the most compact full-sized foldable bike in the world.

The bike can fold so small that two FUBi bikes can fit in a single Smart Car. As the video below shows the inventors, who are currently looking to Kickstarter to get this one rolling, might just be onto something. Video after the jump

Lane to Change

PeopleForBikes – formerly Bikes Belong – has announced the Green Lane Project has entered phase 2.0.This month it began accepting applications from U.S. cities hoping to be amongst the next six selected to lead the way in building protected bike lanes.

Launched in 2012, the Project has worked closely with six major U.S. cities –Austin, TX; Chicago, IL; Memphis, TN; Portland, OR; San Francisco, CA; and Washington, DC. This project has sped up the installation of protected bikes lanes around the country.

Applications are open from October 18, 2013 through January 2014. Cities should file a letter of intent to apply by November 15, 2013. The six new cities will be announced in Spring 2014. Video after the jump

Signal to Turn – On the Back

Cyclists don’t always stand out to drivers, and even when riders try to signal this isn’t so easily understood by those in the car. The Safe Enjoy Interact Light (SEIL) system is a water-resistant LED light grid that can mount directly on a backpack. It can be controlled wireless via Bluetooth to a lever on the handlebar mount.

On a single charge the light should be good for hours, providing plenty of time for commuters to ride to work and signal lane changes and more. Designer Myung Su Lee is now looking to Kickstarter to get the SEIL Bag on riders’ backs. Video after the jump

Weekend Reading List (10.19.2013): Off Peak, Custom Ride, 3D Health

Off Peak

From BikeRadar: London tackles lorry danger with off peak delivery trials
Lorries – a frequent cause of serious and fatal injuries to commuter cyclists – could become scarcer in the London rush hour under plans to trial more early morning and night time deliveries. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (10.19.2013): Off Peak, Custom Ride, 3D Health

Build Your Ride

Sure you can map your ride, but Strava is now helping riders build their route. The Strava Route Builder allows users to leverage the data of the Strava community to discover and ride the most popular roads and paths across the world. This can allow riders to create routes in cities that they might not be familiar with, so this could include minimizing hills – to flatten your ride as needed.

It can also help rider determine how long the ride might take based on what other riders have done on the same streets, and the route can be exported to compatible GPS devices or as a printer-friendly cue sheet – both with turn-by-turn directions.

Strava Official Blog: Routes are Here!

Myth Unmakers

The League of American Bicyclists’ Women on a Roll report has compiled data from more than 100 sources to showcase the growth and potential of female bicyclists in the United States; and it found that there are more myths than truths when it comes to women and cycling.

Women on a Roll Official Website

In the Click

Clipping into bike pedals is something that seems quite unnatural to many people at first. To this end Shimano has expanded its Click’R pedal line, which are aimed at beginner cyclists as well as commuters. These feature revised SPD clipless technology with a lighter spring and elevated catch that allows riders to be engaged more easily.

The PD-T420 is dual-sided, with the Click’R SPD binding on one side and a flat pedal on the other; while the PD-MT50 is designed as a recreational mountain bike style that features a wider integrated cage for mud shedding with traction spikes.

Shimano Official Website

Runner Scooter

Who wouldn’t want an Audi convertible? Well, the Mini Runner isn’t exactly something for cruising down the highway, but it could be something for the younger crowd to get very excited about. It is a balance bike that converts to a scooter! It is made of lightweight aluminum and is suitable for kids aged three to eight, so it might instill some love of Audi that is there for life!

Audi Mini Runner Official Website

The Grand Canyon

German bicycle maker Canyon has created many interesting concept bikes, and the company is still on quite the roll. Among its latest concepts is a two speed belt drive urban bike that features integrated lights, a built-in locking system, mudguards, non-slip flat pedals, hydraulic disc brakes and even a removable shopping basket. This is the sort of bike that would be ideal for commuting in urban and suburban locales. Too bad it is just a concept, but we’ll be sure to watch and see if this grand ideal from Canyon takes off.

[Via Bicycle Design: Canyon Urban Concept Bike]

Pure Times Five

Pure Fix Cycles is on a roll, and the company recently announced its new line of City Bikes. These include five models aimed at urban commuters.

The cute Abbey is ready for down town (get it Down Town Abbey), while the Crosby shows some stylish curves and a mint green paint scheme. The Wilshire offers a glamorous look that evokes the Golden Age of Hollywood, the Langdon is ready for a ride in the city or country, and the Bourbon is designed to be a smooth as a glass of class. According to the company the Bourbon is already sold out, but the others are available now in single speed models with three-speed versions hitting the streets soon.

Pure Fix Cycles City Bikes Official Website

The Lying King

httpv://youtu.be/vx3KJn8r8y0

While he probably would have preferred to have a film made about this life that was more Pride of the Yankees, Lance Armstrong will have to settle for something a little less flattering.

The Armstrong Lie originally began as a documentary by Alex Gibney that was to look at Armstrong’s return to professional cycling, but apparently the truth had a nasty way of getting in the way. This two-hour film reportedly chronicles Armstrong’s rise to power and glory and examines the fallout from one of the greatest scandals in the history of sport. It will open in New York and Los Angeles on November 8.

Spencer for Rider

The leaves are changing colors and cool weather isn’t so much coming as it has arrived. The Oliver Spencer Biking Gloves will keep the heads warm as the temperatures fall. These are knitted from soft lambswool that features just a bit of nylon to provide shape retention and added durability. The leather palms will help improve grip.

Oliver Spence Biking Glove at END Clothing