Consumer Reports just released its bike helmet buying guide where it rated helmets for safety in crashes by testing impact from several directions and types. You’ll have to buy the guide to get details on specific helmets, but Consumer Reports liked the Specialized Echelon and Bontrager Solstice Youth, which both earned top rankings. Two helmets that didn’t fare so well in testing were the Nutcase Street Sport 8 Ball and Bern Brighton Thin Shell EPS for women. Continue reading Consumer Reports Rates Bike Helmets
Category: Cycling
Bikes Belong Calls for Protected Bikeways
While many hardcore cyclists have no fear of riding in traffic, for many commuters, younger riders and those with an actual fear of death likely avoid riding on streets at all costs. But several cities are working to make for safer and stress-free. Top transportation officials from across the country, including Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez, headlined the launch of a new initiative to bring protected bikeways to six U.S. cities including Austin, Chicago, Memphis, Portland, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
This is the result of the Green Lane Project, which was created by the national bicycling nonprofit Bikes Belong Foundation.
Green lanes are dedicated, inviting spaces for people on bikes in the roadway, protected by curbs, planters, posts or parked cars. The goal of the Green Lane Project is to support the selected cities in their efforts to develop and install these kinds of facilities. Recent studies have demonstrated their benefits nationwide. In Washington, D.C., bicycle volume tripled after protected bikeways were installed. In Portland, Ore., more than 70 percent of survey respondents said bicycling is easier and safer with these dedicated lanes, while motorists said the facilities did not make driving any slower or less convenient. Continue reading Bikes Belong Calls for Protected Bikeways
Weekend Reading List (6.2.2012: Travel Fitness, Aces High, High Speed NFL)
Travel Fit
From Men’s Fitness: Best Travel Fitness Services
Whether you’re traveling for business or for fun to exotic, far-flung destinations, it’s important to keep up with your fitness regimen. After all, being out of town shouldn’t be an excuse to slack off from your ab workouts, and new research shows that regular exercise helps combat jet lag. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (6.2.2012: Travel Fitness, Aces High, High Speed NFL)
Clif Bar Offers Organic Bars
Clif Bar is going back to nature. The company is introducing Clif Kit’s Organic, a new snack bar made with 100 percent organic fruit and nuts. Clif Bar co-CEO Kit Crawford inspired the organic line after he experiences on her family farm where she developed a passion for organic ingredients and handcrafted foods. Continue reading Clif Bar Offers Organic Bars
Runtastic Adds to Mobile Fitness Tracking Apps
Runtastic added two features to its activity tracking app. Ideal Weight 2.0 and Altimeter are now part of the Runtastic Pro apps, which cost about $3.99 in the Android and iPhone app stores. Continue reading Runtastic Adds to Mobile Fitness Tracking Apps
First Impressions: Polar RCX5 Tour de France GPS
This week we received the Polar RCX5 Tour de France GPS heart rate monitor, the “Official Tour de France Training Computer.” The box pretty much sums up our immediate first impressions, “Yellow is Everything.” Unlike other heart rate watches this one doesn’t try to go low key – it goes straight for yellow.
While it will likely take a lot more than the RCX5 on your wrist to get in yellow, it certainly could help you train better. Over the years we’ve tested a fair share of heart rate monitors and this one is also more than just clock, calorie counter and pulse meter in a flashy package. Continue reading First Impressions: Polar RCX5 Tour de France GPS
Sweden Design Firm Comes up with the ‘Invisible’ Bike Helmet
Swedish design house Hövding has come up with an airbag-style bike helmet that puts an inflatable protective hood around the wearer’s head at the time of impact. The helmet is worn in a collar and only inflates when an impact occurs. Continue reading Sweden Design Firm Comes up with the ‘Invisible’ Bike Helmet
Bamboo Racks It Up
We’ve seen bamboo used for bicycle frames, and we’ve seen bamboo used for water bottles and even clothing. But the quick growing grass offers the strength of wood and has a nice look as well. This is why it is used for cabinets and even floors. So it is no surprise that Quarterre would create a bike rack made of bamboo as well.
The Branchline bike race is designed and made in England from FSC certified bamboo and hand-finished in leather. It offers a striking design with adjustable arms that can hold two bikes off the floor. About the only downsides of going with bamboo is that this isn’t the most affordable bike rack – and it will cost about $1500 – plus it will take about eight to 10 weeks to get it. But if you have the money and some patience, the Quarterre Branchline will be an ideal bike rack to show off those spiffy high-end road bikes.
Skateboard to the Bike. Roger That!
For those who enjoy multi-sports and like four wheels as much as two, there is the Roger from Roger Skateboards and Fairdale Bikes. Last year the skateboard company introduced an aftermarket skaterack that could be attached to a bike, and this year they decided to team up with Fairdale to make a bike that included the rack.
The Fairdale bike is even made to match up with the graphics on the Roger deck. And at just $800 this could be a good way to ride to the skate park to get in a ride on the skateboard. Video after the jump
Name of Thrones: The Fastest Saddle in the West
Australian saddle maker Thrones has introduced a speedy looking cover design featuring red racing stripes on a white background. With the white/red/black colorway flooding the bicycle market today, this new design will certainly be a popular choice among riders seeking a flashy aftermarket saddle. Continue reading Name of Thrones: The Fastest Saddle in the West
Less Children Riding Their Bikes
A new disturbing trend is being reported by the European Cyclists’ Federation. According to a recent study the number of kids who walk or ride a bike to school has decreased from 82 percent to 14 percent within the last 30 years. In the United States only 1 percent of children rode a bike to school in 2009, compared to 49 percent of children in the Netherlands. And getting kids back on the bike could help for healthier youth.
The irony here is that more adults are commuting, and the organizers of the Velo-city Global conference are looking at ways of helping make it easier for children to ride bikes. Continue reading Less Children Riding Their Bikes
Hands On: Eurostyle Sports Wash
After a ride, you typically feel grimy. You’re covered in sweat, dirt and may even have some oil picked up from the bike. If you’re home, you can jump right into the shower. If you plan to get in the car, or grab a bite to eat, you may want to clean up a bit. Paceline Products, the makers of Chamois Butt’r, made the Eurostyle Sports Wash to address that need to freshen up. Continue reading Hands On: Eurostyle Sports Wash
Velodrome Concept Design Has Riding on the Roof
The Dutch love their bicycles and they also know how to make excellent use of space. So much so that the the NL Architects have come up with an interesting bicycle club building that will put a velodrome on the roof. This solves a space problem, but also makes excellent use of the space. One catch is that you won’t head to the Netherlands to ride this track, as it is being designed for use in South China. The building with the velodrome roof could actually see construction in the next year.
NL Architects Official Website