Tag: Cycling

Book Review: Bicycle Technology by Rob van der Plas & Stuart Baird

There have been dozens of books on bicycle maintenance, riding techniques and even the history of the sport, but little has been written that actually describes the technology around a bike – at least not in a way for the average rider. Authors Rob van der Plas and Stuart Baird, who both share a lifelong passion for bicycles, have finally addressed this and have written a concise book that examines everything you’d ever need to know about the two wheel contraptions.

This effort, Bicycle Technology: Understanding the Modern Bicycle & Its Components will appeal to the hardcore gear head as well as the causal rider. It offers 28 chapters, beginning (fittingly enough) with a short yet thorough history and development of bicycle, its accompanying technology and finally to what the future may bring for riders. Additionally, this book offers detailed information on practically every single component and materials used in bike construction, and while this isn’t meant to be a study on maintenance, it will help anyone who tinkers with their cycles have a better understanding of how the specific parts work. Other key topics such as different types of bicycles, as well as information on design are all presented over the course of the 320 pages. Continue reading Book Review: Bicycle Technology by Rob van der Plas & Stuart Baird

Interbike 2010: U.S. Rep Earl Blumenauer to Open 2010 International Bicycle Expo

With the Interbike trade show just three weeks away, it has been announced that U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) will serve as the keynote speaker at a special press conference. Blumenauer is founder of the Congressional Bike Caucus, and he will speak on the state of cycling legislation and future government activity on behalf of cycling.

According to the official press release from the International Bicycle Expo organizers this visit from the congressman comes at a critical time as the U.S. government continues to work on the next transportation bill, which could set the tone for cycling infrastructure investments during the next six years.

Rep. Blumenauer will outline where bicycling stands in this matter, and where it is going. He will further pinpoint what the industry can do to support these efforts.

Congressional Bike Caucus

Interbike

Bicycles That Fit Like a Tailored Suit

When purchasing an upscale bicycle a buyer often picks out a frame size, picks out some components and then opts to get a fitting. This is much like buying a suit or a wedding dress, where an item is made to fit you. But PK Cycling of Fairfax, California takes the custom fitting to the next level, and it offers clients the option for a truly customized bike that will fit riders like a tailored suit.

Christopher Kautz of PK Cycling was kind of enough to describe his company’s unique process. Continue reading Bicycles That Fit Like a Tailored Suit

The End of Cervélo Test Team in the Tour de France?

Have we seen the end of the Cervélo Test Team? That seems to be case as the company announced today that it would not be continuing as a title sponsor after the end of this season. However, this doesn’t sound like it will be the end of Cervélo bikes in the Tour, or in other major races. We’ll post more as news develops.

UPDATE: CyclyingNews.com reported that Cervélo could be the bike du jour in next year’s Tour for the Garmin-Transitions team, which could become the Garmin-Cervélo Team.

“The bike manufacturer has been linked with the Garmin-Transitions team as a possible replacement for the American squad’s Felt sponsorship, with Transitions dropping from the second sponsor slot and Cervelo taking over in their place. Neither team confirmed this.” Continue reading The End of Cervélo Test Team in the Tour de France?

Montague Cycles Knows When to Fold Them

Montague’s Boston Single Speed Folding Bicycle

Folding bicycle manufacturer Montague Cycles has announced a new line of 700c road bikes, including its first ever full-sized single speed. The Boston model includes a flip-flop hub, allowing to transform the bike from a traditional free-wheel single speed to a track ready “fixie.” 

It features a 42x16t drivetrain, which is considered ideal gearing for city riding. Designed more for the urban canyons than off-road, this bike still offers the durability that has become a Montague signature. The Boston model features the Cliz quick release and the company’s patented folding system, which allows for a conversion from full-sized ride to trunk-worthy bike in just about 20 seconds.

Continue reading Montague Cycles Knows When to Fold Them

Cycling Brakes for Energy Boost

Every time you shift into granny gear, don’t you wish you had a motor on your bike to kick in and help you up that hill? The Copenhagen wheel claims to do just that. Developed by a team of students at the SENSEable City Lab at MIT, the motor encases the rear hub of the wheel on your existing bike to give it power. The MIT team recently won the U.S. national round of the James Dyson award for the Copenhagen wheel. Continue reading Cycling Brakes for Energy Boost

Electra Bicycles Get a Flat (Foot)

Electric Amsterdam

This week Vista, California based Electra Bicycles was awarded US Patent #7740262 for its revolutionary flat foot technology bicycle design. This forward-pedaling design was developed in 2003, and has been featured on several Electra bike models including the Townie, Cruiser and Amsterdam collection. This unique design allows riders to place their feet flat on the ground while still sitting in the saddle.

This technology was accomplished by something rather simple; so simple in fact that it is one of those things that we ask why no one thought of it before. Basically by moving the crank forward of the set tube, thus is created a forward pedaling ride position that is comfortable and stable. The result allows riders to sit in an upright position in the saddle with proper leg extension for pedaling. This should also help reduce tension in the back, neck, shoulders, arms and wrists. Continue reading Electra Bicycles Get a Flat (Foot)

Spin in Circles With the Ciclotte

A lot of exercise bikes have you put in the miles without actually going anywhere. But the Ciclotte spin cycle will have you getting nowhere in true style. The bike even looks much like a real work of art, but that’s because it is actually based on a concept bicycle is now part of the permanent collection of the Milan Design Museum. As such it is one piece of workout equipment that you probably wouldn’t mind having in your living room, even when you’re not actually using it!

 Designer Luca Schieppati took his concept bike, which was based on the classic unicycles from the 19th century, and reinterpreted its operating dynamics. This in turn became the Ciclotte stationary bicycle, which does look like it belongs more in a museum than a gym. It utilizes a minimalist design but with the utmost of high-tech components and materials, including fully adjustable saddle, pedals, handlebar and support arms. Instead of a chain-driven system the Ciclotte uses a dual satellite epicycloids system that features four gears with varying cogs. Thus the bike doesn’t have a traditional drive train, and instead has gears that turn the magnetized main wheel, in turn creating a magnetic field and thus maximizing the level of resistance. The result should be a good workout once you get into a nice spin. Continue reading Spin in Circles With the Ciclotte

Erie Colorado to Get Velodrome

An artist's rendering of the proposed Boulder Valley Velodrome, a 250-meter outdoor cycling track planned for the intersection of County Line Road and Bonnell Avenue in Erie. (Courtesy of David A. Beal & Associates )

The Erie Trustees recently approved plans for the Boulder Valley Velodrome, which could be operational in as little as a year. This would be the first velodrome built to Olympic guidelines in the United States since 2004, and it certainly could be of interest to the world’s cycling community. While single speed and fixies have become popular in recent years, the fact remains that there are woefully few places across the country to actually compete, or even to learn the ropes. Continue reading Erie Colorado to Get Velodrome

New Performance Fabrics Processed with Plasma

It’s the gas in your TV. And now it’s the gas that created the surface of your clothes. Plasma is a gas created by applying electrical fields to pure gas or gas mixtures in a vacuum chamber. A Swiss company called Eschler is using plasma to cause systematic surface modifications to fabrics. Translation: A process that creates water-resistant, water-absorbing and dirt-repellent fabrics through the use of electricity and an ionic gas rather than the use of chemicals or excessive water. Plasma changes the surface of the fabric to grant these properties through particular textures whether they’re smooth or mottled. The process has traditionally been achieved through the use of wet processing with chemicals and lots and lots of water. The chemical process often makes the fabric too stiff, and wears away with repeated washing.

Continue reading New Performance Fabrics Processed with Plasma

Expresso is no Spin Training

The Expresso Bike mounts a video screen on the handlebars, like dangling a carrot.

Sometimes weather dictates an indoor workout, even when you’re longing for the outdoors. A video screen mounted to the handlebars with scenery doesn’t replace the outdoor feel. Expresso Upright Bike makes claims to “fuse exertainment with Web-based personalization features in a commercial-quality system! Eye-catching and fully-integrated design.” The bike has over 30 Basic-to-Extreme rated interactive tours such as rides along the California coast and the Peruvian mountains.

If you look at this bike, about the only thing that’s advanced beyond other stationary bikes and spin bikes is that the handlebars move to simulate turns and steering around a course or those curvy coastline roads. It also changes the resistance with the terrain on the road or course you’re riding. The video screen provides the scenery, but we’re not certain if it speeds up or slows down to match your speed as you ride. The screen is too small to offer any kind of immersive experience the company claims to provide. Continue reading Expresso is no Spin Training

London Opens Blue Bike Superhighways

If you’ve ever visited London you know that the Brits like to paint clear directions on their streets – as in “Look Right” for those who are about to cross the road. No doubt that is done because they drive on the opposite/wrong side of the street (depending on your perspective), and it probably wouldn’t be good to have the black taxicabs run down American tourists. But this summer London has introduced another type of painted marker – and this one is a lot more than just merely “look” plastered on the ground. London now has cycle superhighways, with the first two being opened this year, and to keep riders safe the routes are marked out in bright blue paint.

Continue reading London Opens Blue Bike Superhighways

Tour de France: The Clean Bottle

you’ve been watching the Tour de France, especially on the high mountain climbs, you’ve noticed a few colorful characters. There are guys in gorilla costumes, dudes with Viking helmets and of course plenty of yellow to celebrate the race leader. And then there is the giant water bottle, which if you followed the whole cycling season you might have seen previously. But in the latter case the guy (or just as likely girl) in the bottle suit isn’t just a super dedicated fan. This is rather a promotional stunt for The Clean Bottle, a company founded and run by David Mayer, a road and mountain biker.

As you might also have noticed in professional cycling, the serious riders don’t keep their water bottles and often toss them to the side of the road. Since most of us don’t have water bottles handed to us from our “team” car during our long rides, we tend to save a reuse the water bottles. The result is pretty much what Mayer discovered – the bottles get really nasty over time, and they’re darn hard to clean, especially if you enjoy sticky sweet sports drinks rather than just your average H20. Continue reading Tour de France: The Clean Bottle