‘Low Tech’ Articles
Written by Peter Suciu on 26 April 2011
ast week FoxNews.com noted that the researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Labs have been testing the current issue helmet, the MICH, which is used by the U.S. military. It was noted that just a quarter-inch, or even an eighth of an inch of additional padding would helmet greatly reduce the force to the skull when there is an impact to the helmet. The findings suggest this could be as great as a 24-percent reduction.
The researchers also looked to the helmets used by professional football players, as concussions are a big concern amongst the players. It was noted that a thicker foam system is used by the NFL players’ helmets than the spongier pads used in combat helmets, and that the NFL’s helmet padding worked better. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Cycling, Helmet, Military, Research, skiing, Soldiers
Posted in concept, Equipment, Low Tech, Research | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 20 April 2011
Fashion on the fairway this fall will be about a lot more than just plaid. And while it might be hard to consider that the fall golf season is just around the corner – especially given that for a lot of us it still feels like winter – it is never too early to think fashion forward.
We’re hearing about Antigua’s fall based outerwear, which is created to function in various climates and will incorporate the trend that focuses on layering. As the weather changes – and do we know it can change – clothing needs to be able to be taken off or put on, to adjust to comfort and function. This year Antigua is layering up beginning with base layers that can be combined with wind resistant or water resistant wind shirts and jackets as well as worn with fuller weight outerwear pieces to function against more inclement weather, and feature a proprietary Desert Dry moisture management technology. These are constructed with a hyper-micro poly fleeced backing against a super soft interlock face which has enough weight to be worn alone and is light enough that it layers remarkably well. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Antigua, Apparel, Atlas Jacket, fashion, golf, Highland, Rendition, Succeed, Viper
Posted in Apparel, Low Tech, Outdoors | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 15 April 2011
Clearly Johan Van Summeren knows how to pick good equipment. We noted earlier this week he was wearing the Castelli SpeedSuit and now ROTOR has noted that the Paris-Roubaix winner pedalled his way on the French cobblestones with 3D+ cranks and Q-Ring oval chainrings!
ROTOR stated:
“Q-Ring has now conquered one of the toughest races in the world, the ‘Hell of the North.’ This is certainly a coming of age for our groundbreaking, proprietary oval chainring technology.
“Cobblestone sectors are always a threat to drivetrain reliability, so perfect shifting and stability are required to traverse them successfully. This huge victory on the pave proves that Q-rings performance advantages come at no cost to reliability, with stability on a par with round chainrings thanks to our subtle ovalization, flawless tooth profiles and highly refined shifting ramp designs.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 3D Cranks, Cycling, Johan Van Summeren, Paris-Roubaix, Q-Ring, Rotor
Posted in Cycling, Equipment, Low Tech | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 14 April 2011
Many of us have a “wall of bikes” in our garage, basement or extra room. As apartment dwellers know, using the wall saves a lot of room. So how about using the outside wall of an apartment building or office structure for a wall of bikes?
This is the idea behind a Ferris-wheel design by Manifesto Architecture, which was submitted to a recent design competition in Seoul, South Korea. The result would be vertical bike storage that could hold 20 to 35 bikes. The bikes would be rotated up and out of the way. So instead of needing to take nearly an entire floor to store the bikes, they could be lifted up and out of the way in a space in an alley or rear of the building.
The issue of course is that many cities – including New York – don’t actually have an abundance of alleyways – despite what Batman comics might otherwise suggest. But there are plenty of nooks and other spaces. And this would certainly make good use of every inch of urban space.
And the designers even thought of worst case scenarios – such as a power failure. The Ferris-wheel system could even be cycle powered, so you have to sit and spin to get to your bike!
[Via Cyclelicious: Bike Hanger vertical bicycle storage]
Tags: bike wall, Cycling, Manifesto Architecture
Posted in concept, Cycling, Low Tech, Outdoors | No Comments »
Written by Brian O'Connor on 05 April 2011
Bicycles and automobiles are more intertwined that you may think. Several automobile manufacturers were actually started as bicycle manufacturers or key players dabbled with bicycles before becoming involved with automobiles. The now defunct Pierce-Arrow Motor Corporation started as a bicycle manufacturer and Carlo Maserati got his start in engines while working at a bicycle manufacturer near Milan, Italy. In recent year, Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, Cadillac and Mercedes have lauched their own line of bicycles to more than likely capture additional revenue after they have sold an automobile. The new car owner can buy the hat, jacket, pen, sunglasses…why not the bike? Saab was clever and sold a Saab bicycle that was folding so that it could fit inside your car just in case you could not park near your final destination. Most of the modern bicycles offered by automobile manufacturers are in reality designed and built by bicycle manufacturers. It is possible that the car company designs the bikes and specs the components, but they certainly are not making them. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Audi, City, Cycling, Renovo, Road, Tour, wood
Posted in Cycling, Low Tech, Sustainable | No Comments »
Written by Brian O'Connor on 04 April 2011
Jake Snakenberg
March 29th marked that date that Colorado became the state with the most sweeping law creating guidelines to protect young Coloradoans in the event of a head injury during organized youth athletic events. Colorado Senate Bill 40, also known as the “Jake Snakenberg Youth Concussion Act”, requires that coaches of youths between the ages of 11 and under 19 take a free annual concussion recognition education course. This course is designed to teach these coaches how to recognize the signs of a concussion; what steps to follow if a concussion is suspected in a young athlete; and immediately remove that athlete for the game, competition or practice. The athlete will not be allowed to return to the practice or competition until he or she is evaluated and receives written clearance to play from a health care provider.
Jake Snakenberg, the individual who the CO Senate Bill 40 is named, was a young high school athlete who died in 2004 after being hit in a football game. It is suspected that the injury was compounded by a previous concussion that he suffered which was never diagnosed. Governor John Hickenlooper signed the law on March 29th with Kelli Jantz, Jake’s mother, near by. Colorado Senate Bill 40 will take effect January 1, 2012. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Colorado, helmets, Jake Snakenberg, Senate Bill 40
Posted in Equipment, Low Tech | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 04 April 2011
Normally we think of “hoops” as something you jump through, but usually not in a circus kind of good way, but rather as a tedious task. However the UK-based designed firm Cyclehoop is actually looking to utilize hoops in a non-tedious way. The award-winning designers and architects specialize in producing innovative indoor and outdoor cycle parking solutions, and they’ve developed a new way to transform existing street and sign posts into bike parking. The Cyclehoop can even be used with existing parking meters, essentially making the posts able to do double duty.
What is great about this is that many sign posts, and especially those parking meter posts aren’t really ideal for chaining a bike. The former lacks coating to protect against scratches to the bike, while the latter isn’t ideal as many bikes with chains could be forced over the top of the meter. The Cyclehoop further allows riders to know that the posts are for legitimate bike use. It is a simple way for buildings and cities to work together to quickly provide an alternative to bike racks. In the end it is one less hoop to jump through.
Cyclehoop Official Website
Tags: Bike racks, Cyclehoop, Cycling
Posted in Cycling, Equipment, Low Tech, Outdoors | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 01 April 2011
As baseball season opens, Rawlings Sporting Goods Company announced this week a new initiative to get kids out from in front of the TV. Time to put the joysticks down and pick up a ball, as Rawlings announced the creation of “National Play Catch with Your Kids Month,” a new platform to promote kids’ physical activity during the summer months. This effort is further designed to encourage families to come closer together through the game of playing catch.
“As the exclusive supplier of baseballs to Major League Baseball and the glove of choice for more pros than any other brand, Rawlings has truly owned this activity that evokes childhood memories for both fathers and sons, and has for years,” said Kurt Hunzeker, senior director of brand marketing for Rawlings. “Our mission is to enable participation in the game, even in its simplest form of playing catch, but the bigger goal is to provide a new avenue to promote daily physical activity.”
The month-long celebration will begin this June with Rawlings pitching in. This includes a national cause marketing effort, with the announcement last month of its Rawlings Replay gently-used equipment trade-in program, and its continued activation efforts within communities across the U.S.
National Play Catch with Your Kids Month
Tags: June, Kurt Hunzeker, National Play Catch With Your Kids Month, Play Catch, Rawlings Sporting Goods Company
Posted in Equipment, Low Tech, Outdoors | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 31 March 2011
We’ve heard of surfing, where you basically ride on the water; we’ve heard of windsurfing, where you ride on the water propelled by the wind; and we know about para sailing and para gliding, where you ride over the waves propelled by wind. So it was just a matter of time until someone came up with kite surfing.
This is part para sailing and part surfing. It is now an adventure sport that is being encountered in off the Venezuelan coast, but it probably won’t be long before it catches the trade winds and makes its way through the Caribbean. It also seems to be gaining popularity in Australia and New Zealand.
This sport is a hybrid of surfing and kite flying, and uses both the waves and the wind to propel the rider. The surfer uses a standard board, reportedly with or without footholds or straps, and apparently hangs on to a kite. So you hang ten while hanging on.
[Via Mid Day: Have kite, will surf]
Tags: Kite, kite surfing, kitesurfing, para gliding, para sailing, surfing, windsurfing
Posted in Equipment, Low Tech, Outdoors | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 30 March 2011
We’ve seen no shortage of cycle computers, and today these feature GPS in addition to tracking distance, calories burned and of course speed. But a pair of Colorado mountain bikers, Graeson Lewis and Mike Hogan, have opted for a more retro and stylish approach with their StemCAPtain clocks.
Essentially, the device replaces the generic – and frankly boring – handlebar stem cap with a timepiece or other similar round gizmo. These include waterproof thermometer or compass (think of that as old school GPS). The installation is simple enough. Remove the old stem cap and replace it with the aluminum base of the StemCAPtain and then snap in the clock or other insert. A silicone gasket at the bottom reportedly keeps it snug and rattle-free.
So do these caps do anything that a cycle computer doesn’t do? Not really, but it is a sort of nifty and easy swap out, and can add a bit of individuality to a bike. The StemCAPtain is available directly from the company, with prices ranging from $19.95 to $26.95 US. Time to ride.
[Via Gizmag.com: StemCAPtain – not a bike lock, but a bike CLOCK]
StemCAPtain Official Website
Tags: bike, clock, compass, computer, Cycling, Graeson Lewis, Mike Hogan, StemCAPtain
Posted in Cycling, Gadget, Low Tech | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 25 March 2011
Anyone who has spent any time in a large city has probably seen riders “wearing” their bicycle chain and lock. This “fashion statement” was popularized by bike messengers since the early 1980s. Unlike most U-locks or other cable locks that can be defeated with relative ease, a sturdy lock and tough chain are actually serious deterrents.
Now with more urban commuters, it is no surprise that some companies have taken the simple concept and turned it into true fashion statement. This includes Hiplok, which does sound like something hipsters would either embrace or shun for the name alone. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: bicycle lock, chain, Cycling, Hiplok, padlock
Posted in Apparel, Cycling, Equipment, Low Tech, Outdoors | 1 Comment »
Written by Brian O'Connor on 25 March 2011
So you finally have purchased that new piece of sporting equipment that will not fit in your car when you want to take it out to the slopes or trail head with your friends. You will either need to mount it on the outside of your vehicle utilizing a rack or tow it behind on a trailer, but as you know someone always needs to make a pit stop along the way. Of course you are worried about the security of your new toys so someone gets left on ‘guard duty’ while the rest of the group takes a break, but this is no fun when it is a post activity function like food and drinks. If you are lucky enough to park in front of a window at your pit stop, you can then keep an eye on your car. Sometimes luck does not always work in your favor, so what do you do?
Most roof racks offer some sort of locking mechanism, but as most of you know these can easily be overcome with basic hand tools. So a second way to deter those who might seize upon a crime of opportunity is to use a cable lock and weave it through your equipment. Now you have to remember to bring a third key with you – one for your car, one for the rack locks and now one for the cable lock. Well Strattec, a leader in OEM and aftermarket automotive locks, has you covered with their new line of BOLT Locks. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: BOLT Locks, Breakthrough One-Key Lock Technology, Strattec
Posted in Equipment, Low Tech, Outdoors | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 24 March 2011
One problem with biking to the grocery store is that you have to lock up the bike. The other problem is that most bikes aren’t really designed to carry a lot of goods, and unless you’re just getting a bag of chips (not exactly health food for riders), you might have a hard time transporting your purchases home.
The Ville Urban Folding Bicycle, which won a Bronze Prize at last year’s IDEA Design Awards might just be the solution. It is a folding bike that essentially transforms into cart to help you do your shopping, and then with a quick change you can be ready to ride home with a bike that includes baskets for your goods. And unlike those actual Transformers from movies and cartoons, this one actually seems practical!
[Via Yanko Design: How To Fold A Bike Into A Cart]
Tags: Cycling, IDEA Design Award, Transformer, Ville Urban Folding Bicycle
Posted in concept, Cycling, Low Tech | No Comments »
