While pedal power can be used to get to work it can also be used to power up your devices. And the BikeCharge Dynamo from Hong Kong-based iBikeConsole uses the same pedal power that moves to the bike to juice the phone. It can be installed on a bike and it acts as a DC generator that is can power up devices via a USB port.
While it could take two to three hours of pedaling to get a full charge, it could be used during a regular commute to “top off” a phone or at least get enough power for a call or two. It features a waterproof design that can stand up to the elements but since most phones aren’t we’d suggest the appropriate case just in case the weather ruins the ride home.
All good things come to an end, including the Olympics. Throughout the 17 days of the games and before we cast the spotlight on some of the latest technology and innovations that were used to help the athletes train and perform. Here is our Kinetic Recap of some of the top stories of the 2012 Olympics: 
The loneliness of the long distance ride can be unbearable at times. While it is one thing to take in the scenery and enjoy the ride sometimes a little music will make that climb or just the miles on the road go by a little quicker. Headphones – especially in-ear headphones or earbuds – can block the outside world, and while that might seem a good idea in fact it really isn’t. 
There are many bike lights on the market, but Fenix offered a truly bright idea at the recent Outdoor Retailer Show. The company spotlighted its new 800 lumen handlebar-mounted light, which can run for up to three hours on high from an internal rechargeable battery. That’s enough light to truly help riders find the way home in the dark.
The tried and true drivetrain of bicycles have evolved a lot over the years, but the dominant system still involves a derailleur that move s the chain from gear to gear on the rear wheel. There have been other attempts to “derail” the derailleur system, and one promising one is from Austrian-based Vyro, which could combines the benefits of a gearbox, chain guide, chain rings and derailleur systems.
Answering nature’s call when in the woods is one thing, but a more urgent need can be answering the phone call before it goes to voicemail. Many riders might want to leave the phone behind during their ride, but if you absolutely can’t miss a call and like to wear full-finger gloves to protect the digits there is the added problem that today’s touchscreen smartphones don’t respond well to said gloves.
Cycling shoe maker Vittoria has for three decades managed to provide some very stylish footwear for riders and for 2013 the company will have rider’s heads covered as well. The company is jumping into the helmet market for 2013 with five models, ranging from $70 to $250 – with the latter being the top end V700.
At yesterday’s 2012 Olympic Games Bradley Wiggins of the UK and Kristin Armstrong of the USA took rode to the gold in the men’s and women’s Olympic Time Trial in cycling. Their efforts likely turned heads, but so did the new helmet that was donned by the Swedish riders.
Even if you can’t climb the mountains like Thomas Voeckler, you can still ride his bike – or at least one exactly like his bike. Colnago has unveiled a special edition C59 Italia road bike. And as Voeckler scored 135 points climbing in the recently completed Tour de France Colonago has limited the run of these to 135-pieces.
The BMX competition at the Olympics is still a week away, but Team USA riders are probably already suiting up in their Nike uniforms, which have gotten rave reviews. While the fashionable uniforms have turned heads, the riders will get the technological benefits when they go for the cloud.
Hot pants – as in short shorts – are really not something that comes to mind for cycling. But the “hot pants” developed byAdidas with help from British Cycling and Loughborough University could be the next big thing for track bike racers. These track suit bottoms are actually warm up pants that can help heat up the rider’s muscles prior to competition.