Cycling | Evolving Consumer

Sea Otter Classic: Razik Back on a Roll

At this year’s Sea Otter Classic Razik Bicycles introduced its new brand and redesigned IsoTruss road frameset. Originally released under the brand name Delta 7, the company lost the licensing rights to the technology, but this year formed a new company and acquired the rights to the develop and entirely new chassis and product lineup.

The company’s new offering is the Vortex, a frame that is 100 percent made in the USA. It has been completely redesigned inside and out, and is arguably the most distinctive-looking bike on the market. It features a frame with an open lattice structure that is made up of three-dimensional pyramid-shaped trusses consisting of carbon fiber and Kevlar strands–all meticulously wrapped by hand, instead of molded sheets of carbon fiber. The design delivers vibration damping and incredible handling in a bike that is sub-13 pounds, depending on component selection.

“The unique capabilities of the IsoTruss design allows us to tailor the properties of each characteristic of the ride,” explains Ryun Noble, president and director of engineering at Razik. “What’s truly astounding is its ability to absorb energy-robbing vibration while maintaining strength and rigidity to transfer power and deliver precise, razor-sharp handling all in an incredibly light frame.”

Razik Bicycles Vortex Official Website

Good PR

Elizabeth Taylor said there is no such thing as bad PR – but the new Quintana Roo PRxis could be called truly awesome PR. This new top-end triathlon bike emphasizes easy assembly, component flexibility, adjustability and aerodynamics.

The $8,500 bike ($4,500 frame) can be assembled and adjusted with just two hex wrench sizes, which make it ideal for traveling racers. The PRsix will work with most available brake systems and comes with interchangeable horizontal or vertical dropouts. The frame features QR’s previously introduced “Shift” frame design, which is intended to shield the drivetrain from the wind and includes a massive left chainstay said to reduce air drag.

“Until this point triathletes have been presented with a selection of superbikes that are relatively heavy, expensive to maintain, and designed for the wind-tunnel alone rather than the variety of course conditions they are most likely to encounter,” said Peter Hurley, CEO of American Bicycle Group, the parent company of Quintana Roo. The complete bike is spec’d with Shimano Di2 Ultegra, Reynolds Strike wheels, an ISM saddle and the Profile Aeria bar. The frameset comes with headset, seatpost, stem and brakes. With all this there isn’t anything but good PR for the PRsix.

Quintana Roo Official Website

Ballista Ready to Launch

A ballista was a medieval weapon that fired massive arrows and now the FBM Bike Co.’s new Ballista is ready to hit like a massive bolt! It is actually designed specifically for hardcourt bike polo players.

This tig-welded chromoly frame is based on the original FBM Sword frame geometry, but features modifications based on input from Evan George and Koyo Maeda of Seattle’s The Assassins bike polo team. The Ballista features a frame that has a taller headtube for a more upright riding position, a lower seattube for more standover clearance and a bulged seattube for more strength at the top tube/seatstay junction. The frame has optional front and rear canti mount brakes and optional front disc brake mounts.

FBM Bike Company Official Website

Weekend Reading List (04.19.2014): Lance Shows He Can Change (a Tire), Another Brick In the Wall, Going Primitive

Lance Shows He Can Change (a Tire)

httpv://youtu.be/HIm_9Ts7RFk

Via YouTube: How To Fix A Mountain Bike Puncture (With Lance Armstrong) Continue reading Weekend Reading List (04.19.2014): Lance Shows He Can Change (a Tire), Another Brick In the Wall, Going Primitive

Cannondale Looks to go OverMountain Again

You can’t ride through the mountain – unless there is a tunnel – so most of the time that means going over it. The Cannondale Trigger and Jekyll “OverMountain” trail/endro bike is ready for the ride. It features 27.5 inch wheels, superMax Lefty forks and a new Fox Dyad rear shock.

The Trigger (above) is this year’s new trail/all-mount ride, which features 140/85 millimeters of adjustable travel and comes in five models — three of which are equipped with a 140-millimeter SuperMax Lefty. The Trigger will also be available in a 29-inch version. Continue reading Cannondale Looks to go OverMountain Again

Bicycle and Walking Commuting on the Rise

More people are walking or bicycling to get to work, and this is in turn making people safer. These are two of the conclusions presented in the 2014 Benchmarking Report published by the Alliance for Biking & Walking. The report, published every two years since 2003, is one of the Alliance’s key initiatives.

The report is compiled from data from all 50 states, the 52 largest cities and, for the first time in this report, 17 midsize cities. It looks at the rate of walking and biking, accident and injury rates, the level of spending on biking and walking projects and issues, and the level of advocacy support in various regions and communities.

A key figure is the percentage of commuters who bike or walk to work, and although the number is still tiny, the report shows a steady increase: In the 2005-2006 report, the Alliance showed that nationally 0.4 percent of the population biked to work. In the latest report, the number is 0.6 percent. In large cities, the percentage biking to work has grown from 0.7 percent to 1 percent over the same period.

Alliance for Biking & Walking 2014 Alliance Benchmarking Report Official Website

Deluxe Storage

If you’re heading out on the bike there is always more stuff you need and less room to bring it. The Bike Cube Deluxe from Mountainsmith will let you carry the goods in style. It features a roll-up tool organizer, padded changing mat, a padded eye-wear pocket, specific spots for helmet, shoes and more. This ensures that you don’t leave that important “something” behind. It works as a standalone piece or in conjunction with our Modular Hauler Systems, so you can arrive at the next event in style.

Mountainsmith Bike Cube Deluxe Official Website

Silca Gets Inflated

Silca is launching its first new product in the United States – a CO2 inflator and matching cartridges. These are the first new products from the historic Italian brand as it was reborn in the United States last year. These new inflators use a smaller, lighter spring than other brands, and makes them truly pocket sized.

The new U.S.-made EOLO III inflator is shipped with two Austrian-made 16 gram cartridges that are reportedly made to higher standards than most cartridges sold in the bike market. The higher standard requires that each 16 gram cartridge contains between 15 1/2 and 16 grams of gas. The inflators also feature rubber protectors to prevent the threads from being damaged inside saddle packs or elsewhere.

Silca Official Website

Down and Dirty

Spring is the time that the snows melt and the roads turn to… mud. In Russia there is even a name for this condition. It is the Rasputitsa, the semi-annual time when the countryside is just a muddy mess. The Rasputitsa is also the name of this weekend’s 47 mile gravel road race through northern Vermont.

Each year in the Rasputitsa Spring Classic the race travels through Newport, Coventry, Irasburg, North Troy, Westfield, Jay, and Newport Center before ending on Main Street in Newport, Vermont. The Rasputitsa Spring Classic and sister race, Dirty 40 (scheduled for August 30th) will raise money for the Halo Foundation which helps Orleans County residents struggling with cancer costs. The two events are targeted to raise over $15,000 made available to the Halo Foundation in September.

The race departs Main Street, Newport at 9 AM on April 19th. Finishers are first expected at 11:30 on Main Street, Newport. Main Street will also serve as the location of the Apres-Velo Party with live music by Evansville Transit Authority, Lion Bastards, and The Lynguistic Civilians. Food and drinks will be available on-site. Podium awards are scheduled for 2 PM.

It is a dirty race but someone has to do it.

Rasputitsa Spring Classic Official Website

Tripping Up

Raleigh Bicycles will be the new Trips for Kids International (TFK) North American program sponsor and will provide a fleet of bikes to emerging TFK chapters. TFK’s programs give underserved youth the opportunity to experience mountain biking while learning valuable life skills and an appreciation of the outdoors. The 50 new bikes donated by Raleigh will enable newly formed TFK regional chapters across North America to provide mountain bike outings for low income, at-risk youth in their communities.

“We created the Trips for Kids program model to help individual entrepreneurs, established community organizations, cycling clubs and other organizations streamline the formation of their own regional chapters,” said TFK Executive Director Marilyn Price. “A safe bike fleet is a critical and often costly component of forming a chapter. Thanks to Raleigh we can provide new bicycles as part of the start-up services we offer.”

Trips for Kids Official Website

Three Feet Enforced in Texas!

Texas is increasingly becoming a more bicycle friendly place and KHOU in Houston recently reported that police started an undercover sting that targeted drivers who endangered cyclists. In Houston police have been donning bike attire and hitting the roads to go after drivers who aren’t following bicycle safety ordinance.

“What that simply means is that there are officers out there on bicycles, dressed as normal citizens, who are just riding around town,” Mark Eisenman, an HPD assistant chief, told KHOU.

This followed the March 25 announcment by Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who worked with the city and BikeHouston to create a new Bicycle Master Plan for the City as part of the Goal Zero Fatalities Bike Safety Campaign.

“As the name of this program implies, the goal is to end cycling fatalities,” Parker said. “Whether on a bike or behind the wheel, we have to abide by the rules of the road and learn how to share the road safely. Unfortunately, a spate of recent bicycle fatalities on Houston streets indicates there is much work to be done in this area. As a first step, I am dedicating $50,000 toward the cost of a Bicycle Master Plan that will guide our future decisions regarding placement of dedicated on-street bike lanes and infrastructure.”

[Via GearJunkie: Undercover Cops Sting Drivers Endangering Cyclists]
[Via KHOU: Undercover stings target drivers endangering bicyclists]

Cool Breezer

Breezer has launched a new line of of full-suspension bikes with 29-inch wheels and 120 millimeters of travel, called Supercell, which are equipped with Link suspension design Breezer introduced on its 650b Repack enduro bike last year. The MLink was designed with Sotto Group, an independent engineering firm.

“When we introduced Repack last summer, Breezer’s new all-mountain bike, it climbed and handled so well it completely changed people’s perception of what an all-mountain bike could do,” said JT Burke, Breezer product and brand manager. “And with Supercell, our new trail bike, we’re pushing that even further. Our patented MLink suspension technology is so efficient, lockouts are a thing of the past; and Breezer riders are seeing just how fast a balanced and efficient full-suspension system can climb.”

This innovative MLink design features a short-link pivot placed in the middle of the chainstay, which reportedly can balance out opposing braking and pedaling forces for an anti-squat and anti-rise ride. Breezer Supercell and Repack are currently the only bikes available with the technology.

Breezer Supercell Official Website

Double O Light

The Double O isn’t exactly something we’d expect 007 or any other British super spy to use, but these are being developed in the U.K. by Paul Coksedge Studios through a Kickstarter campaign. The Double Os put out 80 lumens up front and 45 lumens in the rear. The designers suggest that this round style uses less bright LEDs but more and that results in a more visible light – without being blinding or otherwise distractive to drivers and other cyclists.

These charge up in 90 minutes via USB and have three modes – steady, which can run for about 2.1 hours; flashing at 4.2 hours and Eco at about 10 hours. Video after the jump