Riding a bicycle at night can be dangerous, and while there are numerous ways to improve your chances of being seen, we like the bright idea that Rickshaw Bagworks came up with in its new line of messenger bags. Made of reflective “Ultra-Glo” material, these feature microscopic glass beads that bounce light so drivers will have no trouble seeing you. The Reflective Medium Zero bags are available in silver or orange, and are also waterproof so you can be seen and keep your possessions dry at the same time!
Category: Cycling
Tern Takes the Red Dot
One good Tern deserves another… award that is. The folding bicycle manufacturer was recently awarded ther prestigious 2012 red dot design award for product design for its Verge Duo bicycle. In addition to the red dot award, Tern received a Eurobike Award at the 2011 Eurobike Show for the Eclipse S11i and a Taipei Cycle Design & Innovation Award at the 2012 Taipei Cycle Show for the Verge X10.
“It’s great to be recognized for the Verge Duo because we work hard to achieve clean, functional design,” stated Joshua Hon, Tern vice president. “The fact that we have received three major international design awards all within a year of the launch of our company is a validation of our philosophy and objectives, which is to produce bikes for urban transport.” Continue reading Tern Takes the Red Dot
Sheet Metal Bikes Ready to Roll
What goes around comes around, especially when it is a bicycle. While carbon fiber may be the current material for the major frame makers, some small builders are returning to good old metal – but in new and innovative ways. One such builder is Ronin Metal Masters of San Francisco – a small three man partnership that is is building frames from laser-cut or punch-cut sheet metal. Continue reading Sheet Metal Bikes Ready to Roll
Weekend Reading List (4.14.12): Running With (Just) GPS, Tech From Paris-Roubaix, Social CrossFit
Lonely Runner Indeed
httpv://youtu.be/kWO7SBjmzYs
From YouTube: [CrazyNav] TwoNav, When orientation becomes a game
Challenge yourself! Find your way, alone, with nothing else but your GPS.
Kinetic(Mis)Shift: Rain Cover That Could be Dangerous
No one likes to get wet while riding a bike, but we’re not sure how the Nubrella – which is part umbrella and part over-sized (clear) hat – will actually keep you dry. It won’t stop spray from the road, and will only protect the wearer from rain that isn’t blown in the wind.
Worse, it seems like it could actually impair vision and not be all that easy to wear with a helmet. A poncho would probably be a better solution and won’t look nearly so ridiculous!
Kinetic(Mis)Shift are products that we think deserve to be called out for their utter lack of fitness benefits
Fitness Journal: Taking on the Tri
Lee Gardner, president and head coach of Trismarter talks triathlon!
For the past several years, the sport of triathlon has become one of, if not the fastest growing sport in the United States. For those of you who haven’t already been bitten by the triathlon bug, triathlon consists of three individual disciplines: swimming, biking, and running; performed consecutively from start to finish. Since its inception by members of the San Diego Track Club in 1974, modern triathlon has evolved into standard distances. Continue reading Fitness Journal: Taking on the Tri
Garmin Back Pedals on Pedal-Based Power Meter
Absolute power mar corrupt absolutely, but that won’t be a problem for Garmin. Our friends at BikeRadar have reported that Garmin has delayed the release of its highly anticipated Vector pedal-based power meter.
“After testing our latest advanced prototypes of the Vector system, we are still not satisfied with the results,” said Garmin in a statement. “As you can imagine, Vector is a complex, precision measurement instrument and as of yet, we are unable to ensure that this device will meet the expectations of the cycling community. Presently, we cannot estimate a delivery date but we do not expect the product to be ready in the summer of 2012, as previously targeted. We understand that this is a highly anticipated product within the cycling community, but Garmin’s commitment to quality necessitates this additional delay. We will update our customers when we have additional information to share.”
All power may be fleeting, but those looking for a pedal-based system to track power, there is still the Look/Polar designed Look KeO.
[Via BikeRadar: Garmin Vector power meter release date pushed back]
Sea Otter Classic: Atlas 8 Ready to Roll
Tow, tow your gear with the new Road Warrior Sports trailer, the Atlas 8. Launched in January, the sports trailer will be shown at the upcoming Sea Otter Classic, where riders can get a chance to check out this efficient solution for hauling gear and freeing up space in a car or SUV. Waterproof and lightweight, this sports trailer can be hauled by nearly any vehicle to provide 73 cubic feet of space, and even provide extra room for bikes on top. The Road Warrior would be envious!
To infiniti3D and Beyond
In urban centers bicycles are unfortunately stolen a lot. And a quality bike lock can protect the bike but only to a degree. Thieves often use tools to steal the expensive components from an unguarded bike, but now we’ve started to hear about British bike component maker Atomic22, which has introduced its infiniti3D system that utilizes a one-of-a-kind key tool that is paired with matched fasteners including bolts, wheel skewers and other parts that require tools. Continue reading To infiniti3D and Beyond
Made in America: Chamois Butt’r & Chamois Butt’r EuroStyle
Spring has arrived for most of us in the Northern Hemisphere and for those who have not been on the bike in a few months, it could be a painful time of the year. Not only do the legs need to be dusted off and put through the paces of riding ’base’ miles, but just getting used to time in the saddle can be painful for some people. Even if the correct saddle is installed, the rider’s positioning is correct, and good, quality padded cycling shorts are being worn, sometimes soreness and pain can still develop in the area of the body that is directly in contact with the saddle. Hanging up the bike or cutting a ride short does not have to be the answer. To help relieve this pain, a chamois crème or ointment can be applied to the chamois area of the cycling shorts before putting them on or directly to the part of the body that is sore. This crème is not only designed to reduce chaffing, but also provide relief to that area of soreness through the addition other ingredients inside the product.
We have highlighted a number of different chamois crème products in the past, and all of them have the same goal of providing relief to the area of soreness – just with a different list of ingredients designed to tackle the issue in a slightly different way. The main difference between the two types of chamois crèmes are the ‘regular’ creams act as a lubricant, reducing chaffing; while the ‘European’ formulas, along with similar skin lubricant properties, also provide a cooling feeling through additional ingredients like menthol to stave off the growth of bacteria. Paceline Products, of Pleasant Valley, Missouri, has been developing and distributing both types of chamois crèmes since their ‘regular’ formula, under the name Chamois Butt’r, was introduced to the market back in 1997. Continue reading Made in America: Chamois Butt’r & Chamois Butt’r EuroStyle
Glo Bars Light the Night
Biking at night can be hazardous for riders and drivers alike, and there is no shortage of blinky lights, reflectors and even wearable attire that lights up. We’ve seen gloves with LED lights, vests that illuminate and even a wired light that can wrap around the frame. Continue reading Glo Bars Light the Night
Bo Knows Bikes – Bo Helps Alabama
Alabama-native and 1985 Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson reportedly knows many things – and now he clearly knows how to help out those in need. Trek Bicycles has announced that it is helping out Bo this month with Bo Bikes Bama, a charity ride to raise funds for tornado relief across the state. Continue reading Bo Knows Bikes – Bo Helps Alabama
X-9 Nighthawk Takes Flight
With each new bicycle design, Slovakian mechanical engineer Braňo Mereš has looked to utilize a new material. He’s created various on-off bicycle frames in recent years, and has included bikes made of carbon fiber (the cycling industry’s go to material), but also branched out with some innovative materials along the way. He’s riveted strips of titanium together and even used a woven bamboo fiber with an epoxy resin as very interesting take on composites. Continue reading X-9 Nighthawk Takes Flight