Cycling attire looks great when you’re riding a bike. However, as we’ve long noted what might look good on the bike looks anything but good off the bike, and utterly inappropriate at work. While cycling shorts have really no place at the office, neither does a team jersey.
We’ve seen some efforts to make office friendly shoes and now Giro’s New Road Apparel is a line of commuter garb that will be fine for the work place beyond casual Friday. This line features Merino wool, which is breathable and stretchy, and a design that will be good on the bike and good on the office. The lineup includes different layers as well so you can be sure to dress appropriately as you ride to work.
Do pro cyclists “commute” to work? We’re not really sure but the BMC Racing Team has been “outfitted” with a new line of BMC commuter bikes, fitted with Gates belt-drive drivetrains. The new Urban Challenge line will reportedly be on the team trucks this season – which could indicate that the bikes could debut for the rest of us this fall.
When riding to work you don’t need a wingman to watch the road, but the Wingman travel bag from Henty might be just the thing so you can show up at your desk looking smart and ready for business. This multi-purpose bag enables easy and versatile all weather commuting and travel for active business men and women.
Basically this over the shoulder bag is a garment bag that can transport business suits, dresses, shirts and other accessories. There is even a front pocket that includes a padded laptop/tablet sleeve. This Wingman is thus flexible but still features semi-rigid vertical ribs that restricts the diameter when rolled, which in turn minimizes garment creases, allowing wearers to ride to work, change and get the job done.
The Nutcase Crossover helmet, which is distinctive for its glittery gold finish, will make the transition and let users cross from winter to summer. This bicycle helmet features removable fleece ear flaps, which can provide plenty of warmth during the cold winter commuters, but can also be removed as the weather turns. While it probably doesn’t offer enough ventilation for summer riding, it is ideal for those cooler days.
Commuting by bicycle to a metro station might just get riders only part way to work, especially if the distance from the station at the other end is far. Plus most commuters probably don’t love the idea of leaving a bike in the elements all day. But Tern Bicycles, maker of folding bikes, is working with the Stuttgart Transit Authority to provide a special folding bike at a special bike. Unlike regular bikes these folding ones can even be taken on the train during rush hour – providing riders a way to ride a bike, ride a train and ride a bike the rest of the way.
Sometimes when you get on the bike you’re not in spandex. Sometimes you’re even in pants. But that presents a problem as the cuff can get caught up in the chain and not only ruin your commute, but also your pants. For years there’s been a few solutions, generally in the form of a bright, reflective yellow strap. New technology and design innovation is making its way down to ankle straps. Read the rest of this entry »
You don’t wear a football helmet to bike, and you probably don’t wear baseball shoes either while riding during the daily commute. So why try to use a bag that isn’t really designed for cycling? Messenger bags are good, but now the Brooks Piccadilly Knapsack might just be the best thing for commuter cyclists since bike lanes.
This leather pack features a single top design along with a top handle for easy carrying off the bike, but the harness system is what this stand out. It ensures ideal balance, which can be important when dodging cars and walkers while heading through concrete jungle to get to work. The Piccadilly might make the trip a little easier so you and your belongs make it there in one piece.
While rising gasoline prices may have many commuters down, more than 500,000 American employees are now using pedal power to get to the office, and work at a Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB). This is the result of pro cycling leadership in the private and public sector, and this week the League of American Bicyclists announced 67 new BFBs, who joined the ranks of the 412 local businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies that are transforming the American workplace. Read the rest of this entry »
What do you do if you cycle to work but need to “suit up” at the office? Well, you could try riding the bike with a suit on, or you could jam said suit in backpack. There is also the option of leaving the suit at the office – but the Cambridge Design Partnership has another solution – introducing the Suitpack, a special rucksack deisgned to provide a crease-free solution for cycle commuters. The still in prototype design allows for clothing to stay neat and clean as you ride to work. Shower not included, but if you have a way of getting cleaned up, you’ll have a suit that is ready to wear.
Biking to work is a challenge. You want a secure place to lock your bike, and sometimes you need a shower before going to the office or meeting. The city of Santa Monica in California is addressing the issue with a full-service bike parking center on the 3rd Street Promenade. The bike center is located in a storefront of a new mall in the area.
The Santa Monica Bike Center takes up 5,300 square feet. It has slots for bikes to be locked, showers, lockers and a self-service repair center. The center will also have attended valet parking for those shopping in the mall that want a little extra service. It’s reported the ground-level garage cost $2 million.
Cyclists will need to become members of the facility in order to use the amenities. Membership terms include daily, weekly and monthly rates.
What is holding back bicycle commuting in the United States? Washington-born designer Gabriel Wartofsky has suggested that it is the lack of options available. To this end he has been working on an electric assist bike that could help users get to the nearest transit hub or final destination sweat-free, grease-free, and without a hassle.
Commuting on a bicycle can be a great way to start the day and for many people it is also the only time to get some exercise. Unfortunately, commuting can also be a sketchy proposition depending on the route that is used to get to work. When my wife and I lived in California I had a 50 mile round trip commute that took me over the Golden Gate Bridge and into San Francisco. Fortunately for me, there were very few incidents that occurred, but occasionally there was the run-in with an inattentive driver or bus operator. Since those days, I have always been alert to new ideas regarding commuting. Recently one in particular caught my eye – the Speed Vest, which was profiled recently in Make magazine.
Google has long been thought of as an innovator in the high tech industry, but most people who do not live in the San Francisco Bay Area are unaware that they are also innovators when it comes to their employees commuting to work. With 1000′s of employees, Google has grown what was a grassroots van pool in 2006 to a 70 vehicle fleet with 275 daily departures which can all be tracked online by the waiting employees. This program alone has reduced their yearly carbon dioxide emissions by 5,400 tons or the equivalent of almost 2,000 cars off of the road a day.
Realizing not everyone can or wants to take the shuttle, Google also encourages their employees to use other modes of transportation to commute to work. Along with reducing the carbon footprint and getting some exercise, employees who are part of the Self Powered Commute Program (ie. cyclists) also earn a charity credit for each day that they ride. In addition to encouraging employees to use alternative transportation to commute to work, Google also has 1,000′s of bicycles around that Mountain View campus that employees can use as needed.
Brendon Harrington, Transportation Operations Manager at Google, talks about alternative transportation and says that 40-percent of Google’s Mountain View employees commute via non-single car driving.
Though Google has not completely achieved the goal of being ‘carbon neutral’, they are making a valiant effort. What is your company doing?
Cycling attire looks great when you’re riding a bike. However, as we’ve long noted what might look good on the bike looks anything but good off the bike, and utterly inappropriate at work. While cycling shorts have really no place at the office, neither does a team jersey.
Do pro cyclists “commute” to work? We’re not really sure but the BMC Racing Team has been “outfitted” with a new line of BMC commuter bikes, fitted with Gates belt-drive drivetrains. The new Urban Challenge line will reportedly be on the team trucks this season – which could indicate that the bikes could debut for the rest of us this fall.
When riding to work you don’t need a wingman to watch the road, but the Wingman travel bag from Henty might be just the thing so you can show up at your desk looking smart and ready for business. This multi-purpose bag enables easy and versatile all weather commuting and travel for active business men and women.
The Nutcase Crossover helmet, which is distinctive for its glittery gold finish, will make the transition and let users cross from winter to summer. This bicycle helmet features removable fleece ear flaps, which can provide plenty of warmth during the cold winter commuters, but can also be removed as the weather turns. While it probably doesn’t offer enough ventilation for summer riding, it is ideal for those cooler days.
Commuting by bicycle to a metro station might just get riders only part way to work, especially if the distance from the station at the other end is far. Plus most commuters probably don’t love the idea of leaving a bike in the elements all day. But Tern Bicycles, maker of folding bikes, is working with the Stuttgart Transit Authority to provide a special folding bike at a special bike. Unlike regular bikes these folding ones can even be taken on the train during rush hour – providing riders a way to ride a bike, ride a train and ride a bike the rest of the way.
Sometimes when you get on the bike you’re not in spandex. Sometimes you’re even in pants. But that presents a problem as the cuff can get caught up in the chain and not only ruin your commute, but also your pants. For years there’s been a few solutions, generally in the form of a bright, reflective yellow strap. New technology and design innovation is making its way down to ankle straps. 
You don’t wear a football helmet to bike, and you probably don’t wear baseball shoes either while riding during the daily commute. So why try to use a bag that isn’t really designed for cycling? Messenger bags are good, but now the Brooks Piccadilly Knapsack might just be the best thing for commuter cyclists since bike lanes.
While rising gasoline prices may have many commuters down, more than 500,000 American employees are now using pedal power to get to the office, and work at a Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB). This is the result of pro cycling leadership in the private and public sector, and this week the League of American Bicyclists announced 67 new BFBs, who joined the ranks of the 412 local businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies that are transforming the American workplace. 
What do you do if you cycle to work but need to “suit up” at the office? Well, you could try riding the bike with a suit on, or you could jam said suit in backpack. There is also the option of leaving the suit at the office – but the Cambridge Design Partnership has another solution – introducing the Suitpack, a special rucksack deisgned to provide a crease-free solution for cycle commuters. The still in prototype design allows for clothing to stay neat and clean as you ride to work. Shower not included, but if you have a way of getting cleaned up, you’ll have a suit that is ready to wear.
