Help Mikaela, (Maybe) Win a Mojo

Donate $5 bucks and get a chance to win an Ibis Mojo SL worth over $5,000. EVERY PENNY of the contest proceeds benefit Mikaela and her family with their  transplant-related expenses.  The more money you donate the more we raise to help this beautiful little girl and her family with her life saving liver and kidney transplant and the more chances you have of winning this bike.  The winner will be drawn at random on April 29th 2011.

About This Bike
The Mojo SL is a super lightweight, efficient pedaling, strong and versatile carbon fiber trail bike.  This Raffle bike comes with a Lopes Link, Carbon monocoque frame and swing arm, 5.5" (140mm) rear wheel travel, FOX RP23 2011 shock, DW-Link Suspension, FOX Talas 32 150/130mm Fork, and a SRAM X9 Group Set.

Why You Should Donate more then just $5 bucks?
It’s simple math, for every $5 increment you donate, the more chances you have to win this Ibis Mojo SL.  And more importantly, the more money we raise for this worthy cause.  The Sienkiewicz family needs an estimated $150,000 to pay their transplant-related expenses.

How This Contest Works
You recieve one chance of winning for $5 or 5 chances for $20.  Every $5 donation will represent a chance to win.  For every $20 increment you donate you get 5 chances.  If you donate $100, that’s 25 chances to win.  At the end of the contest, each unique entry will be assigned a number.  On April 29th we’ll use Random.org to determine the winner.  The Winner will be contacted by “Mojo for Mikaela” and iRide in Stowe, VT. will get hoppin’ on building your bike.
You get to choose the color and size of the bike.
Winners located outside the US are responsible for the cost of shipment at actual cost.
You can also donate at The Ski Rack in Burlington, VT, Earl’s Cyclery & Fitness in So. Burlington, VT and iRide in Stowe, VT and at select cycling events this spring.  
To get more info about the Mojo SL, go to www.ibiscycles.com.

via mojoformikaelas.com

Let's recap, donate to help Mikaela and you could win yourself a brand new Ibis Mojo SL. I'm headed off to donate right now, you should too.

Bike Stuff Round Up

Get ready for the Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival | April 9th and 10th, 2011 in Aptos, California being put on by the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz. I will be there, you should be there too. Also, check the first link for the sweet promo video the club put together. It should be a grand old time! Plus, you could win yourself an awesome Santa Cruz bike! Or get your photo taken by the roving photographer (me).

When designers smoke crack and design stuff.

Get Pumped Up While You Cycle with Airspresso via Incredible Things - Since we stopped drinking coffee several months ago, this isn't quite so personally compelling but it is a neat idea for those hard-core Java hounds who also happen to be hard-core cyclists as well.

The image to the left is of the Limousine Bike, clearly a statement bike without any practical application unless you happen to have ten foot long arms. The statement the designer is making is, supposedly, that more isn't always better. That's not really what I get though, I get more of a "Thou shalt not smoke crack and design bicycles."

iBike Dash CC turns your iPhone into a cycling computer - this is less about the software since I've got at least three apps on my iPhone right now that function incredibly well as cycling computers (including one that speaks my times and splits to me in a rather sexy voice). This is about the protective case that mounts on the bike and keeps the iPhone from flying off or getting soaked in a downpour (both very good things). My current mount requires me to paradoxically remove my iPhone from its protective case to secure it to my handlebars.

In many ways, I really like the idea of Cycling by Candlelight, it evokes a certain romanticism but the practical reality of using a candle as a headlight means you'd have to keep your speed way down as it would be all too easy to outpace the meager light given off by the reflected flame. It might work as a rear light given its flickering nature but this is more fashionable accessory than useful add-on. But I could be wrong, I'd like to see how it does work.

It does evoke a certain train-like romantic charm though.

Need a new bike, why not print your own bike with your 3D printer? We're not quite there yet but the race just got alot shorter with the introduction of the EADSAirbike. They call it Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) technology but its basically using a tech'ed up printer to printer layer after layer of material to build out a 3D shape. Not sure how it would ride but it would definitely be a solid conversation starter.

And, finally, via the ever thought-provoking Bicycle Design, the Drymer, a reborn e-bike with a roof, articulating wheels, an electric motor and, possibly, a future. Probably not much of a real future in the USA since we tend to the bigger must be better philosophy. Here's the link to their site but its all in Dutch and my access to Google Translate is, oddly, blocked behind the school district firewall.

A Clever Powered Folder

The Voltitude Ultra Folding Urban Electric Bike is a kind of neat little crossover bike with some great features. It is not currently in production as the company is looking for investors

Some of its features include: integrated lighting front and back, standard bicycle geometry (it doesn't look it but the site specs this out clearly), almost instant folding to an amazingly compact package (24 inches by 33 inches) that can easily be stored in your trunk (or boot as the site calls them) or under your desk, wide wheels for stability and ability to deal with urban road hazards (potholes, roadkill, taxis, etc.), integrated locking mechanism, strong hydraulic disc brakes. Its also electrically powered, has a 20 - 40 km range on a max four hour charge.

I'm not saying or suggesting this is the be-all, end-all to the world's transportation solutions but it could be a really nice solution to a great number of people who live pretty close to their work and don't really need a car.

The main downside I can see is that its a bit of a beast to carry at 40 to 50 pounds depending on battery pack. But the only time it would need to get picked up is to put it in a car trunk. Otherwise, it should be rollable even closed up.