Tag: Cycling

Glow You On Your Way

As any cyclist knows you can’t count on the guy in the car to see you. While reflectors and even blinky lights can help provide some illumination, it isn’t always enough, especially for those who commute. As the sun begins to set earlier, and dusk comes by rush hour, getting a little more light can help make the ride home all the safer. Bike Glow Safety Lights are a new way to light up the way, whether it is low light or even complete darkness. The waterproof, battery operated light system can be completely wrapped around the frame of a bike, and unlike pedal reflections or blinky lights, the Glow lights can be seen from multiple directions and angles and at much greater distances.

“Cyclists have been in need of a product that makes them visible from the side for years,” said Bike Glow CEO Chris Cobb. “Our Bike Glow safety light provides riders with a lightweight and inexpensive solution. Cyclists who use Bike Glow can ride without fearing they will be struck by a vehicle on early morning or late evening rides.”

The Bike Glow Safety Light system utilizes a ten-foot flexible light tube. The system’s electroluminescent technology provides bright colors for increased visibility from all angles, while the flexible tube can be used in any weather condition. It is powered by just 2 AA batteries, with up to 120 hours in flashing mode or 50 hours in constant illumination. And if you ride in a pack you can guide the way and be a point of light for others on their night ride home.

Bike Glow Safety Light

Interbike 2011: Vegas, Baby, Vegas

Forget everything you heard about Interbike moving to Anaheim for next August. The show is staying put in Las Vegas. The bicycle show’s organizers made it official yesterday. The show will stay in Las Vegas, and will be held September 12-16.

“The announcement that we were moving the show dates and location elicited a very real response that surveys and discussions alone couldn’t accomplish,” said Andy Tompkins, Interbike show director. “Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to this year’s show and the countless conversations we’ve personally had with exhibitors and retailers regarding the future dates and location of Interbike, we are reversing our earlier decision to move the 2011 show to Anaheim in August. We are hearing loud and clear that, at this time, the industry prefers September dates and the convenience of Las Vegas.”

We’re already looking forward to next year’s show, and we’ll be sure to do the right down the Vegas strip!

Hands On: Shhh! I’m Trying to Ride Here

While at Interbike this year I had the pleasure of riding a 2010 Wazee, offered by Spot Brands from Golden, Colorado. I was interested in riding this bike not because it is a fixed gear bike, but because it is a belt drive, fixed gear bike. Spot utilized the Gates Carbon Drive System with this fixed gear bike and came up with what might be the quietest bike on the market.

I was amazed at how quiet the ride of this bike was and the positive feel of the belt drive system. There was no slop in the chain when backpedaling and after being ridden by countless people at Interbike, the belt was clean. The frame uses track geometry, which made the bike handle very quick and nimble. Continue reading Hands On: Shhh! I’m Trying to Ride Here

Building a Better Bike Helmet, From Cardboard

One of the helmets shown at the London Cycle Show is constructed from corrugated cardboard. A grid framework of cardboard is pieced together, then covered with a shell. This is the concept design of recent graduate Anirundha Surabhi who earned an industrial design degree from London’s Royal College of Art.

Dubbed Kranium, the cardboard helmet weighs less than its polystyrene contemporaries, and is able to withstand more than one impact. The cardboard ribs flex and de-flex, then the remaining amount of energy is absorbed by the crumpling nature of the corrugated cardboard ribs. The Kranium helmet was tested against the British Standards at the Imperial College, and was found to absorb 4 times the amount of impact energy when compared to regular cycling helmets.

A shell for protection covers the corrugated ribs of the helmet. The cardboard is treated with  an acrylic waterproofing agent, which protects against rain or inevitable sweat. Even with the acrylic treatment, the helmet is recyclable.

Initially, the helmet will have to be custom fit with head measurement instruments Kranium plans to distribute to stores. Helmets are expected to cost roughly £80 with replacement helmets made from original measurements to be a little less. Designer Surabhi hopes to make a cheaper, mass-produced version in fixed sizes that will be available in vending machines. If a cheaper, more widely available version becomes available this will be a boon for bike rentals, municipal bike share plans, and cyclists in third world countries.

Surabhi was awarded a grant from the James Dyson Fellowship for his design, and is currently in talks for angel funding.

Via [BikeBiz]

Tired of Greasy Hands and Pant Legs?

The Gates Carbon Drive system debuted back in 2008 based on 25 years motorcycle and dragster CDS technology. The Gates Carbon Drive System was developed to offer cyclists a lighter weight, lower maintenance, quieter ride and cleaner drive system than the current chain system on the market. The no-stretch Carbon Drive belt is embedded with carbon fiber cords and requires no lubrication, but the system does require a frame designed around the CDS.
Continue reading Tired of Greasy Hands and Pant Legs?

A Mount that Fixes an iPhone to Bike

There’s a number of cycle computer-type apps for the iPhone. They track your speed, distance, map where you’ve been or plan to go, and so on. But that info is all useless if your phone is in your pocket.

A company called RAM Mount has a cradle that secures your iPhone 4 to the handlebar of any bike. The RAM EZ-On/Off handlebar mount is constructed of high-strength composite. It uses zip ties to attach, making it easy to adjust to a variety of handlebar thicknesses. Once mounted, you can adjust the angle to make the screen more visible when you’re riding.

RAM Mount

Via [BoingBoing]

Interbike 2010 Wrap Up: Cycling with Cervelo

At Interbike we were able to get a peak at what is going on with “Project California,” and took a ride on some of the new Cervelo bikes, including ones using the upcoming BBright. This new technology is the only bottom bracket standard that uses an oversize axele and oversize frame tubes. The idea here is that it will be an optimal combination for overall system stiffness and weight for the frame, crank, and bottom bracket.

There are a few moments with any technology where you say, “this is going to change everything,” and that ride with Cervelo to Red Rock Canyon was certainly one of those. Continue reading Interbike 2010 Wrap Up: Cycling with Cervelo

Interbike 2010: Let the NiteRider Pro 1400 Light Your Way… on Your Terms

As you are browsing through the accessory section your favorite bike shop, you will probably notice that most of the large bike companies have their own headlights on the market. These headlights are perfectly fine for commuting and bike path rides, but rarely do they offer enough light for a fast descents or tight single track. If you find that you are riding slower during the night or you are planning on entering a 24-hour race, you need to invest in a good lighting system.

One system that may interest you is the Pro 1400 system offered by NiteRider based in San Diego, CA. As the name implies, this dual LED lamp system produces 1400 lumens when set to the ‘high’ mode. The 1400 lumens is achieved during the ‘high’ mode by both the spot and flood light being fully illuminated to 700 lumens each. Though this will offer plenty of light for the trail you are blazing, your run time will only be 2:30 hours. For a longer night ride with these light right out of the box, all you have to do is switch to either the flood or spot lamp when the full 1400 is not needed. Continue reading Interbike 2010: Let the NiteRider Pro 1400 Light Your Way… on Your Terms

Interbike 2010: Fold and Change

Change is coming, and we hope this time it is actually means something. We’re not talking about anything political either, but rather the Change Folding Bike. We’ve seen a few folding bikes we like a lot, and we’ve seen a lot of folding bikes we don’t like at all. The Change is one that might actually “change” everything. It features the traditional diamond frame – with a few sexy curves thrown in for good measure – and more importantly this is one of those bikes that doesn’t offer tiny wheels and a messed up center of gravity. It offers full sized 26-inch tires, disc brakes, is compatible with standard bike parts and weights just around 11.5 Kg. Continue reading Interbike 2010: Fold and Change

Interbike: For Women Doesn’t Mean Pink

Just because it’s pink, doesn’t mean it’s made with women in mind. That’s the feeling among bikers and the emphasis of a handful of “made for women” bike clothing companies. That doesn’t mean they don’t have a pink jersey or pair of socks in there. Here’s a few companies tailoring their gear just for the fairer sex.

Shorts are among the most important garments for cyclists. They must have padding, and they should have coverage enough so people don’t see whether you wear underwear or go bare underneath. We’ve had a pair or two that were too revealing. Tough Chik Woman’s Cycling Shorts are a six-panel style with a rear privacy liner to keep things to the imagination. They feature an E.S.P. Chamois, silicon gripper and tagless labeling so you don’t have the discomfort of a tag poking at you while you ride. This short is recommended for mid-distance rides. Continue reading Interbike: For Women Doesn’t Mean Pink

Interbike 2010: Lighted Brain Bucket

There was no shortage of helmets at Interbike this year, but one was hard to miss – mainly because it lighted up the booth and more. Leave it the Taiwanese to put an electronic fiber optic light into a cycling helmet, and actually make one worth even considering. Aegis could have just slapped a normal bike light on the back of a simple helmet and called it a day, but at the company developed a nice brain bucket that is ideal for commuting and other causal riding.

It features 19 large vents to help keep the head cool, while stainless steel mesh over the holes work to keep out insects and other objects. The shell is constructed of high impact PC, and the YKK clip and chinstrap ensure a nice tight fit. The LED light is powered by 2 AAA batteries and can flash for up to 120 hours, while the LED offers a lifetime up to 50,000 hours. It is EMS certified, so no worries about harmful electromagnetic waves frying the brain it was meant to protect.

Aegis Bicycle Helmets Official Website

Interbike 2010: Steel Wheels for Rush Hour

Single speeds and fixies remain popular on the track and on the mean streets, yet few one gear cycles fit all need. Hipsters and urban dwellers want their stylish bikes, racers want a quick and responsive ride and messengers and commuters want a simple bike where little can go wrong.

Raleigh’s Rush Hour  is the bike you’ll be rushing to ride no matter which need you look to fill. It goes old school with a Reynold 520 butted chromoley steel frame left bare, fitting for a bike that has the bare minimum of parts too. Rather than trying to hide the beauty of the materials, it instead shows off the unfinished metal, offering a special clear coat protection finish to stop rust. The Rush Hour can be ridden on a track as a sleek racer, or used on the street as a truly one-of-a-kind bike where no two will be exactly alike.

Raleigh Rush Hour
$770
Raleigh USA