Early adopters to the iPhone 5 don’t have to go without a cycling computer. iBike will have the iBike Dash CC 5 Cycling Computer and iBike Phone Booth 5 Case & Mount available next month and the end of the year. Continue reading iPhone 5 gets iBike Dash and Phone Booth Case
Category: Cycling
Made in America: Light & Motion It Up
We’ve seen a lot of bike lights, and other gimmicky methods to light up a bike but sometimes simple is what it is all about. The new Light & Motion Taz offers 1,200 Lumens that will truly light the way for those riding when the sun isn’t shinning. This American made light is designed as a “crossover” model, so it can be used for mountain bikes as well as street bikes.
It is simple in that it features no cables, and instead contains the batter inside – making it easy for commuters who lock the bike outside during the day. It features multiple settings and can run at the full 1,200lm for 90minutes, or provide a respectable 600lm for three hours. At 300lm it can run constant for six hours, pulse for nine or flash for 18 hours. And it can get fully charged in about four hours.
Weekend Reading (10.20.2012): Armstrong Doesn’t Do It, Reality Bytes, Endless Wave, Ice Ice Leggy
Armstrong Out
From Cycling News: Nike terminate Armstrong’s contract
In a sudden change of stance, Nike has announced it has terminated Lance Armstrong’s contract because of the “seemingly insurmountable evidence that Lance Armstrong participated in doping and misled Nike for more than a decade.” Continue reading Weekend Reading (10.20.2012): Armstrong Doesn’t Do It, Reality Bytes, Endless Wave, Ice Ice Leggy
Sleestak Gloves Found!
For those who didn’t grow up in the 1970s and (fortunately) missed the recent movie reboot of Land of the Lost, the pseudo-villains were the Sleestaks, a lizard race that communicated through hissing and had just two fingers and a thumb.
While Answer’s Sleestak cycling gloves won’t require the wearer to hiss to talk, it should keep the hands warm as these are designed to handle temperatures to 20º F. We imagine even a cold-blooded creature like a Sleestak would find that reassuring. Just don’t get lost out there in the snow.
Answer Products Official Website
[Via BikeRumor: Found: Answer’s Sleestak Winter Cycling Gloves]
Take the sting out of your eyes with Sweat GUTR
One of the most annoying and sometimes dangerous situations that can occur will cycling is to have sweat, laced with sunscreen, drip into one or both eyes. This is especially true while descending some of the canyons around Colorado at over 50- miles per hour. Just that split second of time not focusing on the road can mean the difference between riding home on your bike and never making home again. The pads inside a helmet do a decent job holding the sweat back to a point, but once they become saturated, the sweat just continues to run down the forehead and into the eyes. A terry cloth and bandanas can also be used, but they too will become soaked with sweat leading to the same problem.
There exists another solution for managing the sweat that doesn’t involve a fabric band that can ultimately become saturated with perspiration. The Sweat GUTR is an ingenious little invention that does exactly as the name implies – it acts like a rain gutter for sweat. The thin, non-absorbent band is worn across the forehead, just as a terry cloth sweatband is worn; but instead of soaking up the sweat, it channels the sweat from the forehead to fall down the face between the ears and eyes. When a workout is over, simply remove the Sweat GUTR, wash it with soap and water, and let it dry. Continue reading Take the sting out of your eyes with Sweat GUTR
BKool Trainer is Cool Indeed
One big trend at this year’s Interbike trade show was virtual trainers, and while we didn’t see BKool at the show, the Spanish brand of cycle trainers has been developing its own software system for four years. BKool offers an online component so riders can compete against others either recorded or live, plus power output, personalized training sessions with automatic resistance changes via the laptop. Continue reading BKool Trainer is Cool Indeed
Concept Ride – the MiniMum
Small concept bikes apparently on some designers’ minds. Last week we heard about the Bicymple, a small chainless bike. This week we were treated to word on the MiniMum, from Omer Sagiv, a city bike that is crafted from aluminum tubes and which uses a wire cable support with flexible tension to add stability.
The MiniMum used a back pedal break along with a Kevlar belt instead of the chain to reduce maintenance on this city commuter. It is reportedly fixed gear, so we’re not sure how that will manage in traffic, and since this bike doesn’t appear to fold we’re not sure if many office buildings would actually allow riders to bring it in. Continue reading Concept Ride – the MiniMum
Trekkin’ Up Mount Kilimanjaro
While the snows aren’t quite as prevalent as they once were on Mount Kilimanjaro, we think Ernest Hemingway might be excited to hear that Trek Bicycles’s Trek Travel team is looking to bring 20 cyclists on an epic fundraiser next February and March that will include the first-ever bike ride permitted on the African continent’s tallest peak.
The ride will be open to only 20 cyclists and is being organized as a fundraiser for drilling projects to bring clean water to more than 150,000 Tanzanians. WorldServe will also host one of the largest-ever environmental clean up projects on Mount Kilimanjaro. Continue reading Trekkin’ Up Mount Kilimanjaro
Xtracycle Adds Sidecar for Cargo Bikes
Xtracycle has made a name for itself in the cargo bike space, but if the cargo space on the bikes isn’t enough the company now is looking to add a bit more with a sidecar attachment. This add-on mounts using the horizontal dropouts, and can hold up to 200 pounds on a 24-inch by 30-inch platform. In other words if you have some extra that you need to carry, Xtracycles probably can make it happen. Video after the jump
Shimano Packs It In
We noted back in February that Shimano had entered the eyewear and cycling bag market, and now the company has packed it in with a new hydration system. The new Unzen Hydration pack features the company’s ACCU3D technology, which reportedly allows the bag to wrap around the wearer while moving with him/her.
The Rider Fit X-Harness also provides for a snug fit for better stability on the bike. The Unzen will be available in 6, 10 and 15-liter capacities with a 2 liter Hydrapak reservoir for the 6L bag, and either 2L or 3L for the larger bags. So this means space for water and other stuff for those on the go.
Honey Badger Two Packs in One
The composite pack known as Honey Badger from Sling Fin is like two packs in one. The super-tough backpack can be used for hiking, climbing and just about any outdoor activity. It is waterproof and rugged. Made of abrasion-resistant composts it features integrated tie downs, and climbing rope to ensure that all the gear stays put, and because it has a semi-rigid design it doesn’t need the extra suspension system – thus reducing weight as well. Continue reading Honey Badger Two Packs in One
Unchain Your Heart, but Cover the Chain
The song may beg you to “unchain your heart,” but for those who use single speeds or internal geared bikes there is now a way to cover the chain. The BioLogic FreeDrive, which has actually been around for a while but is only now starting to get in gear and get more attention, is a low-friction chain protection solution that can reduce chain vibration while keeping clothing free from grease. It is has the look of a belt drive but all the efficiency of a chain. Video after the jump
Make a (Kick)Stand
Anyone who has a high-end bike probably at some point gets asked by those not in the know, “where is the kickstand,” and most of the time the joke is one them. Kickstands add weight, don’t look all that great and generally aren’t needed. At least until time comes for you to want to leave the bike for a moment. Leaning it against a tree, car, building or curb are usually the only options and a lot of the time the joke is on you when the bike falls over. But there are some alternatives for portable kickstands that might be worth considering.
The first is Upstand, which is much like a basic kickstand but made of short sections of carbon fiber, and it relies on a neodymium magnet to fold up when not in use. It reportedly can be installed in less than a minute as it can be added to a bike via the rear wheel’s skewer. As it is folds and isn’t all that long this one seems reasonable to stash in a pocket or pack. Video after the jump