This month SRAM released details of its new Force CX2 group, a single-chainring cyclocross racing parts kit that reportedly borrows technology from its single-chainring mountain bike groups. Force CX1 uses SRAM’s X-Sync chainring technology, which uses alternating wide- and narrow-teeth to improve chain retention. The chainring design is combined with a rear derailleur with a roller bearing clutch, X-Sync pulleys and other technologies to improve chain retention. The parts will be available July 1.
Tag: Cycling
Armor Warmers
The StantoVelo Protective Arm Warmers could just as easily be called “armor warmers,” as these feature 6mm EPDM foam padding within the Lycra/elastane and micro fleece fabric. The result is a cycling arm warmer that features an antibacterial and waterproof covering for those cool spring rides – but also some padding to protect from road rash and much worse. The StantoVelo logo is even reflective to help riders be seen at night.
Yuba Boda Do Again!
Yuba Bicycles has updated its Boda Boda cargo bike with new accessories for carrying children, adult passengers, groceries or a surfboard – yes a surfboard. The bike, which is also available in “Step-Over Red,” features a redesigned rear cargo and passenger rack, which is now compatible with Yepp child seats. The 2014 Boda Boda also offers new mounts for its Bread Basket front basket, new Cruz Cream tires, rear disc brake tabs, new handlebars and saddles and removable Love Handle side loaders for easier shipping.
Allo Allo!
The Allo promises to be the world’s first bike mount-speaker combination, which can provide riders with a safer way to access a smartphone while riding. The Allo features a built-in speaker that can allows users to listen to music, navigation and even make phone calls without having to take their hands off the handlebars and without the need of headphones.
“I’m passionate about biking and music and saw there was no safe product out there that let me combine the two,” said Benji Miller, inventor of the Allo. “After seeing many cyclists illegally and unsafely use their earbuds or phones while riding, I wanted to create a way for people to use their smartphones while still being safe, which is when I first started designing and creating the Allo. With design experts on the team, they fine-tuned the concept to what it is today.”
Miller launched a Kickstarter project earlier this month to help produce the Allo. Video after the jump
Six More Cities Get Green Lanes
PeopleForBikes – formerly Bikes Belong – has selected six more cities for its Green Lane Project. The bicycle advocacy group will conduct a two-year program to build protected lanes in six new U.S. cities including Boston, Denver, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Seattle. This follows the original Green Lakes Project that brought lanes to Austin, Chicago, Memphis, Portland, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Green lanes are on-street lanes separated from traffic by curbs, planters, parked cars or posts intended to help organize the street and make riding a bike an appealing option for more people.The six cities, which were chosen from more than 100 U.S. cities that submitted letters of interest for the program, will receive financial, strategic and technical assistance to create the lanes.
AA Thinks Bikes
The British AA – equal to America’s AAA – has launched a Think Bike campaign that will provide drivers with stickers that could placed on sideview mirrors to remind them to watch for bikes.
BikeRadar reported that the campaign was launched after an AA survey of more than 17,500 drivers found that 93 percent sometimes found it hard to see cyclists and more than half admit to being surprised when a ‘cyclists appears from nowhere.’ Perhaps this program could eventually come to America.
Weekend Reading List (03.22.2014): BikeRadar on YouTube, Total Madness, Famous Falls
BikeRadar on YouTube
httpv://youtu.be/EKPrSw5xF7k
BikeRadar launches new-look YouTube channel
Eagle-eyed viewers will have noticed that our YouTube channel has been overhauled and that content is cleaner, slicker and sharper than ever. Not seen it? Head to the channel right now to check it out. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (03.22.2014): BikeRadar on YouTube, Total Madness, Famous Falls
The Shark is Ready to Ride
We’ve seen a lot of interesting bike saddle designs, and lately it has been about changing the profile of the seat. This has included making seats with slots and even holes. The Shark saddle from Essax goes the opposite direction and adds a fin that riders will sit on.
The fin (as seen above) will apparently find a place. The company says this fin will help evenly spread a cyclist’s weight onto the sit bone. We’re not sure we want to be the ones to test it out – and we think we’ll wait to see what people have to say!
The Buddy Gives Back
Next week Buddy Bikes will provide 10 bikes to special needs children as part of the The Michaela Noam Kaplan Great Bike Giveaway. This online contest is organized by The Friendship Circle, a non-profit organization. The third annual contest is currently in progress and has already surpassed the previous contests in donations, prizes and applicants. In 2013, 29 adaptive bicycles were awarded to the contest winners; so far in the 2014 contest, 76 adaptive bicycles are included in the prizes, surpassing the organizations goal to give away 75 bikes.
Entrants submit a photo of their child and a short description of their need for an adaptive bicycle and obtain 50 nominations before the contest ends on March 25, 2014 at 11:59 am (Eastern Standard Time).
The Michaela Noam Kaplan Great Bike Giveaway Official Website
WTB Launches New Saddles
At the Taipei International Cycling Show earlier this month WTB launched a new mountain bike saddle, the High Tail, which the company said is designed to give increased rear tire clearance on full suspension 650b bikes. It features a distinctive cut out at the rear to allow the extra tire clearance, making it ideal for downhill and other large wheel off-road bikes.
Fix It Again
Last year Fix It Sticks caught our eye when it successfully launched its first radically designed, all-new bicycle tool on Kickstarter. For 2014, Fix It Sticks is returning to the crowd funding site to help launch two new products, the “Fix It Sticks Replaceable Edition” and the all-new “T-Way Wrench.”
“Each of these tools essentially combines a 3-way wrench, T-wrench, multi-tool and screwdriver all in one small, tough, portable package,” said Brian Davis, founder of Fix It Sticks. “Our new tools easily replace a few hundred dollars worth of shop tools and will free up shop storage space. Besides the bits we provide, the design accepts driver bits found at any hardware store. Virtually any bit can be used; sockets, Torx, hex, and Pozidriv.” Video after the jump
Adidas is on the Roll
When we think of Adidas shoes are the first thing to come to mind, followed by apparel – but the company looks to hit the road on wheels this year. For 2014 Adidas has collaborated with Bombtrack Bikes to create a limited edition track bike. It is a minimalist looking ride, but apparently you’ll have to head to Asia or Europe to get one. It will only be available in Adidas stores but sadly not in the United States.
Elite Guard
There are a lot of simple mudguards on the market that can quickly attach/detach from a bike, but the Musguard is a true elite. Developed via a Kickstarter project the Musguard is truly minimalistic – and it can be rolled up when not needed and coiled on the top tube, but when the street is wet it can be attached to the seatube and protect your back from the spray. Video after the jump