Roadies and mountain bikers plagued by shifting problems may serve themselves well by first examining the health of their inner and outer cables. Those unable to solve shifting issues with a simple cable tension adjustment or who experience stiff action at the shift lever should strongly consider starting from scratch with new cables.
The ease with which the inner cable travels through the outer cable is paramount to superior shifting performance, especially at the rear derailleur where only a small amount of travel is required to make a clean and easy shift. Here, a compromise in travel as little as 1-2mm can adversely affect shifting performance. Cable travel can be impeded by a corroded inner cable, a bent outer cable, an outer cable whose inner wire strands have pulled through the casing (which may not be revealed without removal of the ferrule), or simply too many rides in the rain or mud.
This week the League of American Bicyclists, Bikes Belong, Endomondo and the Kimberly-Clark Corporation kicked off the National Bike Challenge, which runs from today until until August 31, 2012. This is a new, nationwide initiative to inspire and empower millions of Americans to ride their bikes for transportation, recreation and better health.
The friendly, online competition is looking to unite 50,000 bicyclists to ride 10 million miles in communities across America. The Challenge is simple, free and open to everyone, and can sign up as an individual or as a team, log your miles, share your stories and encourage others to join you. Smartphones users can download the free, GPS-enabled Endomondo mobile app to record travel distance and automatically upload their miles. Riders will compete for prizes and awards on the local and national level, including a Grand Prize trip through California wine country from Trek Travel. Read the rest of this entry »
Whatever happened to the Cadillac standard? As in “the Cadillac of bikes,” because it seems that could practically be slumming it he states. Last year Italian bicycle maker Colnago partnered with Ferrari for a new race-worthy road bike, and now Swiss maker BMC is partnering with Lamborghini for the ultimate in luxury bicycles.
This follows partnerships by Porsche, BMW and even McLaren, so it is no surprise that Lamborghini is looking to getting here. And the BMC impec Automobili Lamborghini Edition looks as if it could blow away some cars on the open road. Feature wise it is all first-class, with unbranded carbon fiber rims, the Di2 electronic dérailleur system from Shimano and even a suede saddle. Of course the Lamborghini logo is present in high profile. Read the rest of this entry »
We have seen a few attempts at creating a way to peddle at the desk? Most of these hybrid desk chair/bicycles would probably seem out of place at most offices however. Belgium’s We-Watt has taken the concept in another direction, putting a fresh spin on it.
Rather than being the chair you’re using your desk all day, the WeBike is three-person circular table so you can get into the spin with two of your colleagues. This could be used for meetings, or during the break. It set the table is an interactive LED ring display in front of each seat, which indicates the amount of human power being generated. This power can even be used to juice up and recharge mobile devices through the pedal power created by you and your coworkers. Read the rest of this entry »
Me and my friend were hit by a car in California – Berkeley
The guy did not stop! He ran away!
Thank guys for your support! Yesterday I went to the police department and I reported the crime. I also gave the video to the police officer. It was possible to identify the number of the car on the video. The police have located the car and the owner. Now I’m waiting for the return of the police on the case. Read the rest of this entry »
Electronic shifting. Carbon fiber. Strava. None of these will help you perform better if you bonk during a ride or run – you might as well be wearing a boat anchor around your neck. Fueling your body during an extended period of exertion is more important than whatever new whiz-bang gadget you just purchased. Just like gasoline and coolant to an automobile, if your body runs out of fuel or water, you are done.
GU Energy Labs of Berkeley, California knows sports nutrition all to well and has been involved in the industry since 1991. Their first product was a single serving gel that was fairly revolutionary at the time. While racing for mountain bike team in western Pennsylvania around that time, I remember receiving packets of GU gel to use since they were a team sponsor. The other choices at the time were chalky tasting energy bars and Fig Newtons. The GU gels were a welcome addition to the nutrition arsenal. These single-serving packets traveled well in a cycling jersey, even during events in the pouring rain. When needed, they were easy to open, consume and digest. They quickly provided the necessary fuel needed to be competitive, and as a bonus they actually tasted good. Read the rest of this entry »
Cyclists are odd people. We like to support our favorite professional racer, team or country, but many of us shy away from wearing the team jersey or kit since we do not actually race for them. This certainly isn’t the case with fans of other professional sports teams, especially football and baseball. If the local pro team is in the play-offs, it is tough to go anywhere without seeing their colors and jerseys draped on the backs of their loyal fans.
So how does a cyclist still show their support?
A number of companies are producing jerseys that are ‘influenced’ by the rich heritage of professional cyclists or regions. These jersey designs are stylishly designed and colorful without being a rolling billboard for a company or team. Since 2005, Solo Cycle Clothing, based in Auckland, New Zealand, is one such company producing these retro looking jerseys and they are introducing their wears to the U.S. market. We recently had a chance to look at their König Jersey and take it out for some test rides. Read the rest of this entry »
It seems that great minds must think alike, is we’ve come across another innovative (and dare we say bright) idea for helping cast a little illumination for those cycling at night. Los Angeles industrial designer Nathan Wills has launched a Kickstater project to create a helmet with built-in luminous panels.
The still in prototype Torch T1 features white LED bulbs in the front, and red ones at the back, covered with plastic lenses, which dispersed the bold light to a greater viewing angle. These LED lights are powered by two rechargeable CR2 batteries and can offer five hours of run time in a non-flashing mode. Read the rest of this entry »
Japanese bicycle component manufacturer Shimano continues to drive innovation. The company was the first (at least successfully) to introduce electronic shifting for bicycles, with its high-end Dura Ace groupo. Now the company could be shifting gears again, as it looks to introduce an 11 speed version.
This week Waterloo, Wisconsin-based announced that its pilot program Materials Innovation Technologies has cycled more than 70,000 lbs. of carbon fiber in the year since the program was first initiated. Since April of last year, all manufacturing scraps, non-compliant frame components, and select reclaimed warranty frames undergo processing at Material Innovation Technologies’s South Carolina facility for repurposing in reinforced thermoplastic applications, including aerospace, automotive, medical and recreational applications.
“We’re really proud of the results that we have had in just one year,” said Trek’s Senior Composites Manufacturing Engineer Jim Colegrove. “Now that carbon has become such a commonly used material in cycling, it’s important for all brands to consider the entire life cycle of a product.” Read the rest of this entry »
At this weekend’s VolkswagenSea Otter Classic – the bicycle festival, Grand Fondo, Expo and races – a few new surprises were shown. These included new 29ers – mountain bikes with 29 inch wheels – but Ibis skipped introducing, one and instead rolled out a 59er, aptly named Maximus.
The bike weighed in at about 1000 pounds, and used 59 inch diameter tractor wheels. The bike is of course too big for anyone – at least shy of Paul Bunyan – to actually ride. The Maximus is actually the brainchild in creation of Fort Bragg Calif. sculptor Nick Taylor, and is made from 4 inch diameter steel, and features custom made works, bars and stem. Read the rest of this entry »
Automotive designers have long used the so-called “crash test dummies” to determine how a passenger in a car will fare in a crash. Now students at Ottawa’s Carlton University have developed a crash test dummy specifically for testing bicycle equipment.
Dubbed “Superman,” this dummy doesn’t actually ride a bike but rather can fly – perhaps earning his moniker – over the handlebars at speeds in excess of 15 mph, crash into an obstacle or make impact with the ground. This is done to simulate head and neck injuries, will also determining what other injuries a rider may sustain.
Other sports have utilized technology to ensure correct calls for years, from the ball-tracking system in tennis to instant replays in football and basketball. Finally, it appears soccer — the world’s most popular sport with the most passionate fans — will use technology to determine if a goal is, indeed, a goal. Read the rest of this entry »
This week the League of American Bicyclists, Bikes Belong, Endomondo and the Kimberly-Clark Corporation kicked off the National Bike Challenge, which runs from today until until August 31, 2012. This is a new, nationwide initiative to inspire and empower millions of Americans to ride their bikes for transportation, recreation and better health.
Whatever happened to the Cadillac standard? As in “the Cadillac of bikes,” because it seems that could practically be slumming it he states. Last year Italian bicycle maker Colnago partnered with Ferrari for a new race-worthy road bike, and now Swiss maker BMC is partnering with Lamborghini for the ultimate in luxury bicycles.
We have seen a few attempts at creating a way to peddle at the desk? Most of these hybrid desk chair/bicycles would probably seem out of place at most offices however. Belgium’s We-Watt has taken the concept in another direction, putting a fresh spin on it.
Cyclists are odd people. We like to support our favorite professional racer, team or country, but many of us shy away from wearing the team jersey or kit since we do not actually race for them. This certainly isn’t the case with fans of other professional sports teams, especially football and baseball. If the local pro team is in the play-offs, it is tough to go anywhere without seeing their colors and jerseys draped on the backs of their loyal fans.
It seems that great minds must think alike, is we’ve come across another innovative (and dare we say bright) idea for helping cast a little illumination for those cycling at night. Los Angeles industrial designer Nathan Wills has launched a Kickstater project to create a helmet with built-in luminous panels.
Japanese bicycle component manufacturer Shimano continues to drive innovation. The company was the first (at least successfully) to introduce electronic shifting for bicycles, with its high-end Dura Ace groupo. Now the company could be shifting gears again, as it looks to introduce an 11 speed version.
This week Waterloo, Wisconsin-based announced that its pilot program Materials Innovation Technologies has cycled more than 70,000 lbs. of carbon fiber in the year since the program was first initiated. Since April of last year, all manufacturing scraps, non-compliant frame components, and select reclaimed warranty frames undergo processing at Material Innovation Technologies’s South Carolina facility for repurposing in reinforced thermoplastic applications, including aerospace, automotive, medical and recreational applications.
At this weekend’s 
Automotive designers have long used the so-called “crash test dummies” to determine how a passenger in a car will fare in a crash. Now students at Ottawa’s Carlton University have developed a crash test dummy specifically for testing bicycle equipment.
