Bike Links Round Up Redux

I need to do this more often than I do because there are always awesome things happening in the bicycling world. Here are some that I've come across recently. Painstakingly reconstructed after Blogger got drunk and had its awful, mean spirited way with my formatting.

Tioga releases super thin axleless pedals. I'm not a clip-in guy, I've tried it, hated it and went back to my Power Straps. I like these pedals though it looks like they'd snap under a decent impact even if I'm pretty sure they won't (otherwise Tioga will be replacing lots of them for free!).

 Duplex lever lets disabled cyclists activate both brakes with one hand. I am all for anything that helps as many people as possible get on two or three wheels and power themselves. Self-propulsion is self-empowering.

I have a test for you.

Okay. I know you've already looked at this pic but can you tell me what's wrong with it?

Yes, I can clearly see what's right with it.

And no, its not because she's not wearing a helmet or shoes.

She's dressed perfectly!

The Brompton Dock pilot project aims to make it easy for a commuter to rent a folding bike from a locker at a transit site, ride it to where they want to go, keep it for as long as they need and then return it when they're done and get billed for their time used. Seems pretty straightforward. It'll remain to be seen if the system can fly or not though.

Revolights aim to make you more visible and also make you look a bit like a light cycle from Tron. Not much but a bit.

I'm sure everyone reading this always wears a helmet when they ride but, if not, then here's a powerful personal example of why helmets are a very good thing (hat tip to Martha Stewart), Heads Up for Helmets even if they don't spell helmet correctly the first time (check the URL).

Paul Budnitz makes some pretty beautiful, clean, light and fast titanium town bikes. The one on the left there is the No2, the faster and more aggressive of the two bikes he's produced thus far. The bikes have great lines and are almost certainly fun and fast to ride. The only downside I can see is the price tag of $5500 for one. If I'm dropping $5k on a bike then its gonna be an Ibis Mojo, no question!

Trading Diamonds for Hoops

Radical-looking RoundTail bike claims radically smoother ride because the traditional rear triangle of the bike's frame is replaced with two round hoops that are purported to help soak up bumps and provide a gentler ride.

I'm always interested in bicycle designs and this one seems like a rather interesting solution to a bumpy problem. I don't think this would work in a mountain bike set up as it seems like the rough surface would induce more of a pogo-ing effect.

But I could definitely see this bike on the road in skinny bike form as pictured here or, as one commenter suggests, as a cruiser. It could also be set up as a commuter/town bike too and those rear hoops could easily double as pannier mounts to go touring.

I love clever and this is a pretty clever solution. Even if it will take a while to get used to the hoop-y style frame.

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.

Beautility - Beautiful Utility

I've kind of developed into a bit of a design geek over the last year or so. I read several design blogs (and yes, I mostly do look at the pictures) and sometimes find bicycling gems hidden away. Don't know if this made the rounds or not already but I was fascinated by the design and its great utility.

The copy from the site reads:

Shopping Bike is a folding bicycle that offers multiple functions and new ways to bring a green lifestyle to reality.

In “Sport Mode,” Shopping Bike is a nimble bicycle for travelling with ease. The addition of a convenient storage container at the rear puts the bike into “On-the-go Mode.” Folding the bike achieves “Shopping Mode,” in which it functions as a trolley that can be pushed in front or pulled behind the user as they walk. Shopping Bike has been styled to complement city life and to be suitable for use by both sexes. It has been designed to integrate with multiple contexts, from the market to the shopping mall. The frame incorporates two L structures that have been joined such that sitting on the bike makes it more stable.

I'd definitely take it out for a test ride and review.

There are an incredible assortment of other design award winners at the Red Dot site. If you dig on good design then you'll probably really enjoy the site too.

And yes, Beautility is another new word I've invented. It will be added to the Fictionarium soon.
Beautility - the beauty of something that's really useful.

Site Redesign

So I got a wild hair tonight and wanted to see what the new template designer could do with NorCal Bikers and did a quick site redesign. Believe it or not, going from the old site to this new one took less than 15 minutes and a good chunk of that was playing around with settings.

I'd like the background image of the mountain biker to be more prominent but I'm interested to hear what folks think. What works, what doesn't work, what needs a tweak to make it better?

The other new feature I'm planning on making more use of is the Read More to let Jay and I post long posts but to not utterly dominate the home page with them. I like a quick loading page and I'm sure others do too.

Anyway, let's hear the good, the bad, the WTFugly!

Cannondale ON Concept

Cannondale's Quantum Leap in bicycle design

The idea was to create a new type of bicycle for the urban rider with a focus on both aesthetics (ie. creating a highly distinguishable bike that looks like nothing else) and new technology including a revolutionary folding frame, maintenance free hub gear, single sided Headshok fork and a unique single-sided drive train. The case closed drivetrain technology provides clean, user friendly, maintenance free, and internally geared performance.

The bikes look decent, kind of like they should be extras in a dark sci-fi flick or something, like what Neo rides when he's chilling out.

But I like the idea of maintenance free biking and not having to worry so much about bashing my derailleur (did I mention I reefed one a few weeks ago?).