Cycling Blog

UBC Study: Cycling Infrastructure Can Reduce Risk of Cycling Injuries by Half

2013-04-07T06:45:00.000-07:00

Cycling is certainly pleasurable and can give good impact for our life especially health. Many people are now turn to a bicycle as a daily transportation replacing car. Unfortunately, not all country or city provide cyclists good infrastructure, in which it can cause cyclists take more risk of injuries

A study from University of British Columbia showed that certain types of cycling routes carry much lower risk of injury for cyclists. The study was published in the American Journal of Public Health in October 18, 2012. The study also analyzed the cause of 690 cycling injuries in Vancouver and Toronto, Canada from 2008 to 2009 and various route types and infrastructure.

The greatest risk to cyclists occurs when they share major streets with parked cars, with no bike lanes present – like on Broadway in Vancouver or Dundas Street in Toronto. Without a designated space on the road, cyclists face a heightened risk of injury from moving cars and car doors opening, according to the study.

In contrast, infrastructure designed for cyclists – including bike lanes on major streets without parked cars, residential street bike routes, and off-street bike paths – carries about half the risk, while cycle tracks (physically separated bike lanes) carries the lowest injury risk for cyclists, at about one-tenth the risk.

"Cycle tracks and other bike-specific infrastructure are prevalent in the cycling cities of Northern Europe, but have been slow to catch on in North America," says Kay Teschke, a professor in UBC's School of Population and Public Health and lead author of the study. "Adoption of safer route infrastructure would prevent crashes from occurring in the first place, while encouraging cycling. Since cycling offers major health benefits, this is a win-win."

Teschke says that increased injury risk also exists with streetcar or train tracks, and where there is construction. "There is renewed interest in streetcars for urban transportation, and the associated tracks were found to be particularly hazardous for cyclists," she adds. "There is also higher risk when construction impacts road traffic. Safe detours for cyclists need to be provided."

Serena Williams Rides A Bike to Match

2013-04-05T11:01:00.000-07:00

An unusual news come from Key Biscayne, Florida in the last March, 23 when the world class tennis player Serena Williams rode a bike from her hotel to a match.

With Key Biscayne's main road in a snarl Saturday night, Williams borrowed a bike at her hotel, rode to her match and beat Ayumi Morita in the third round of the Sony Open, 6-3, 6-3. Williams match was scheduled to start at 8 p.m., and she learned about the gridlock before leaving her hotel

"The traffic was crazy and everyone was like, 'I have been here for an hour, and I’m staying like eight minutes away'" Williams said. "I'm like, OK, I'm not going to make my match."
"So I asked for a golf cart, and the hotel didn't have a golf cart. Then they were like, 'We have a motor bike.' I'm like, 'I don't do motor bikes.' They said, 'We have a bicycle.' I said, 'I really don't do bicycles, but I will today.'"

Traffic jams are common on Key Biscayne, where only one road connects the island with the mainland and Miami. But Williams had never resorted to a bicycle before.

"It was fun," she said. "It was probably one of my best memories I think ever, riding a bike to a match. That's pretty cool."

Williams is ranked No. 1. She seeks her sixth Key Biscayne title and her first since 2008.

Source: http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-03-23/sports/37990461_1_serena-williams-golf-cart-motor-bike

How to Choose A Folding Bike

2013-04-01T01:14:00.001-07:00

Image by montaguebikes.com

Folding bike is very ideal for those living in a limited room like apartment. A folding bike is versatile as it can be folded neatly in half to making it perfect to carry around with you. Folding bike is also easy to store so if you are on the go with your car you could simply get your bike in your car. The use of folding bike are vary, many people use the kind of bike for daily commuting and some use the bike for leisure riding.

The folding bikes commonly have light frames and small wheels, however they are still as durable as their non-folding contemporaries and the range of brands, designs and styles is growing at a rapid rate.

Many people buy folding bikes to take on holiday as they take up less room and are easier to transport on airlines. If you are pushed for storage space at home, folding bikes are great alternatives to full sized bikes.

A folding bike typically has 20-inch wheels, small frames and long, adjustable, sometimes telescopic seatposts and handlebars. The frame usually folds in half with the seatpost and handlebars being lowered.

Choosing a folding bike is actually easy, just like when you bought your regular bike. It really starts with you and what you want to do with your bike. To reduce the folding size and overall weight some manufacturers have decreased the wheel size to as small as 6 inches in some cases but this obviously has an effect on ride quality. Rear suspension and high pressure tyres enable certain folding bikes to be ridden over considerable distances.

Currently there are five different wheel diameters that will affect the ride characteristics and portability of your bike: 16", 20", 24", 26", and 700c. And below are several things to notice before paying for your choice

Decide how you ride
The first step in choosing your folding bike is to decide what type of riding you’ll be doing. Recreation? Century Rides? Commuting? Neighborhood errands?

Choose your wheel size
As mentioned, there 5 are variations of folding bike wheel size from the smallest 16" to the largest one 700c. Keep in mind that the wheel size could affect the portability of your bike so make sure you choose the proper size based on your need

Choose your components
To make your final decision, consider what level of performance you’ll need from your components. The better the components, the better your bike will ride. And better components also mean improved durability and lighter weight. This is the part where the budget versus desirable traits start to diverge

Review - GMC Denali Road Bike

2013-03-30T00:47:00.000-07:00

The GMC Denali Road Bike was actually have been released in the middle of last year. The bike is developed for on the road usage whether commuting, exercise or even racing. If you take the price as a reference, the Denali would be standing on the middle-range bike category. The bike built around a lightweight aluminum road bike frame which mean it's lighter than any steel-framed road bikes

The Denali is obviously not a high-tech bike, however doesn’t mean that you will not get the power, comfort, and reliability. For those multi-speed bike enthusiast, there is a good news from Denali. This bike has a Shimano derailleur and Shimaon revo shifts, so shifting is easy and its high profile alloy Vitesse racing rims and alloy calipers and brake levers means that this is not a “cheap” bike by any means.

If you have been in the market for a lightweight and very affordable road bike that still has all of the features that you would find in any other higher end bike, then this 21 speed road bike might be just what you are looking for

Click here to see price and retailer info

If you are going to use this bike for daily travel to work, great!. You've turned into a right choice. I find the bike strong enough for everyday riding. Overall, I enjoy the bike unless its seat angle which does not appear to be adjustable. Due to the handlebar mounted twist grip shifters, there are very limited mounting positions available for accessories like headlight or handlebar bag so you would be unable to add more additional accessories on your handlebar. But I think it's not a big problem as you can still install your headlight on the head tube.

This road bike has a nice look design and GMC give you a chance to choose your favorite model by offering three different color combinations: yellow and black, blue, and silver and black. The bike comes with an alloy water bottle holder. If you choose to buy the bike online there are only a few pieces that you will need to assemble.

Below are pros and cons about this bike:
Pros:

Has a nice look design and lightweight
Could pass for a much more expensive bike
Seat post clamps down nicely and is plenty long enough

Cons:

No top pull brake levers, have to move hands into the drops in order to operate brakes
To reach higher gears, the left gripshift turns toward you, but the right gripshift turns away from you
Seat angle does not appear to be adjustable

If you want to read more reviews you can visit this page. And below are the detail specifications of the bike:

Frame: Aluminum 7005 straight gauge
Fork: GMC Series 7000 steel
Chain: KMC Z 51
Crankset: Prowheel Alloy 335P6 28X38X48 170mm
Front Derailleur: Shimano FD-TZ 31 Index
Rear Derailleur: Shimano RD-TZ30GS 7SPD
Shifters: Shimano Revo SIS L2/R7
Brake levers: Promax BL-250AP Aluminum
Brakes: Promax 501A Alloy Caliper Brake
Rims: Vitesse Alloy black 700CX14GX36H
Tires: Kenda Black With Grey Band 7X28C
Stem: Aluminum black EXT:100mm 0D.
Handlebar: Maesbend W: 430mm D:22.0mm
Saddle: Cionlli Black
Seat post: HL Aluminum Micro Adjust 27.2 X 300mm
Pedals: VP-990S plastic body with steel cage
Weight: 29.0 lbs

So, did you already have some experience with the GMC Denali Road Bike? Please share them in the comment

Risk of Injury for Bicycling on Cycle Tracks Versus in the Street

2013-03-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

In the United States a frequent source for cycling-infrastructure design is the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities. In its current form, the guide favors one-way bike lanes separated from vehicular traffic by painted lines; cycle paths at sidewalk level are discouraged and physically separated two-way paths, known as cycle tracks, are not mentioned.

Based on sources such as the AASHTO guide, many state and local transportation leaders currently prioritize development of on-street bicycle lanes, believing them to be safer that alternatives such as cycle tracks. A 2010 study from the Harvard School of Public Health, “Risk of Injury for Bicycling on Cycle Tracks Versus in the Street,” published in Injury Prevention, suggests this belief is unfounded.

To better understand the relative safety of on-street and separated bicycle lanes, the researchers looked at 20 years of crash and injury data from Montreal, which has extensive cycling-specific infrastructure. Overall, the researchers found that physically separated cycle tracks are as or more safe than in-road bike lanes.

The study’s findings include:

Cycle tracks were used by 2.5 times more cyclists compared to nearby on-street bicycle routes
The relative risk of injury was 28% lower on cycle tracks compared to nearby on-street routes
The safest cycle tracks were on streets that experienced the least amount of vehicular traffic
Cycle tracks located on high-traffic streets saw fewer or the same number of injuries as alternative routes that were also in heavy traffic areas

The researchers noted that, despite their improved safety over on-street bike lanes, Montreal’s cycle tracks are still not ideal. Among other factors, in some situations they lack of parking setbacks at intersections that increase the ability of drivers and cyclists to see each other, and they aren’t uniformly two-way. Such changes would theoretically further improve the safety of the city’s cycle tracks.

The article was originally written by Leighton W. Klein from Journalist's Resource

Duke Named A "Bicycle Friendly University"

2013-03-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

In March 2012 ago the League of American Bicyclists listed Duke as a Bicycle Friendly University to join other 35 colleges. The program recognizes institutions of higher education for promoting and providing a more bicycle-friendly campus for students, employees and visitors.

After receiving an honorable mention for bicycling efforts last year, Duke now has a "Bronze" designation after submitting an application highlighting aspects of Duke's biking programs and how it makes biking easy on campus for students, faculty and staff.

"Over the past six months, we've addressed safety on all our roads, adding bike lanes, wide shoulders or sharrows to every street on campus," said Brian Williams, Duke's transportation demand management coordinator.
"The Bicycle Friendly University award highlights the work of the Duke community to make riding a bike easy."

Duke will maintain its bronze status for four years, after which the university can reapply to maintain or improve its rating. For the bronze designation, the League of American Bicyclists will give Duke two Bicycle Friendly University road signs, a Bicycle Friendly University pennant, an award certificate and a profile on the organization's website

"As universities compete for students and status, becoming more bicycle-friendly is a winning strategy that energizes and invigorates staff and the student body," said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. "By making cycling safe and enjoyable, Bicycle Friendly Universities are both educating and empowering the next generation to adopt smarter, healthier transportation habits that will last a lifetime."

Source: http://today.duke.edu/2012/03/bikefriendlycampus

Bike Taxi Unlimited, Person Powered Taxi from New Orleans

2013-03-22T22:05:00.000-07:00

Bike taxi? Like what?. The business was founded in 2011 by Rob Lynch, a nice guy from New Orleans. Bike Taxi Unlimited provides superior driver-for- hire services to the general public via eco-friendly, person powered taxis.

Bike Taxi Unlimited could hold up to 3 passenger and just like regular bike, this vehicle also equipped with headlights and flashing taillights. All bike unites also equipped with safety belts to provide safety for the passengers.

“We get people from A to B with kind of an interesting look at the city, It’s all about showing people a different side of New Orleans.” Said Lynch who has graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans.

Lynch previously worked as a financial analyst in St. Louis for four years, but he eventually grew tired of the corporate grind. The idea of Bike Taxi Unlimited come when his brother told him about the thriving pedicab business in Charleston, S.C. Lynch who loved to cycling thought if the tourist-friendly mode of transport would be a perfect match for New Orleans.

Rob Lynch spent two years living in a friend’s basement and subsisting on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to save money for the venture, and then another year and a half working with city officials to draft the ordinance legalizing pedicabs. Bike Taxi Unlimited carried its first passenger in September 2011, and since then the company’s distinctive yellow pedicabs have become a familiar sight around town and at events like Jazz Fest and the French Quarter Festival.

Lynch recouped his initial investment in December, sooner than he had projected, and he says the business has done so well he plans to expand into two additional cities as well as start a new venture designing and selling pedicabs to other operators across the country. Regardless of how much the company grows, however, Lynch says he’s committed to New Orleans.

So, if you have a plan to visit New Orleans someday you seems like have to try this transportation mode. For more information about the Bike Taxi Unlimited please visit its official site at http://www.neworleansbiketaxi.com

Ref: http://freemanblog.freeman.tulane.edu/freemanmag/index.php/2012/08/a-bicycle-built-for-business/

Best Portable Bike Pump

2013-03-22T01:51:00.000-07:00

A portable bike pump could practically ease your ride when you are getting flat tire in the middle of the trip. There are two existing models of portable pump in the market. Both are designed to easy-carrying. The frame pumps are the largest one and easiest to use, but require more space and frame mounting. Meanwhile, the mini pumps are smaller and can weigh just a few ounces. While the frame pumps are commonly mounted on the down tube of your bike frame, the mini one can fit into your backpack or saddle bag

When shopping for a pump, practice using it to ensure that it'll be feasible to use on the road or trail. Look for a handle that is easy to grip and a pump that provides for a quick, steady pumping motion. The mini models might have lighter weight and looks easier to carry on, however it can take a long time per fill and less effective. If you are a road bike user ensure the pump is capable of providing the high pressures needed in your tire.

Topeak Road Morph G Bike Pump with Gauge

If you are currently looking for a good portable bike pump I undoubtedly would suggest you to turn to Morhp G from topeak. The pump has a hose, a folding out handle, and foot peg which sort of turns this pump into a small floor pump. The hose prevents you from accidently ripping the valve stem thus rendering your tube useless. The foot peg allows you to easily reach 100 to 120 psi in about 80 to 100 stroke. The Morph G comes complete with a slick though small in line gauge that reads to 140psi.

The negative thing of the pump is, just like I said, it's heavier than other pumps. As a comparison, it's about 100g heavier than Lezyne Road. However, the heft of this pump does make it appear to be more sturdy then the other. The other con (may be) is that the pump comes with a bottle cage mount so that if you mount it there you cannot have a water bottle cage.

Overall, I would say that this pump is a great equipment for on the go usage and could be your best investment to complete your commuting equipment. Many online reviewers proudly to give 5 stars to the Morhp G even if the pump contains some negative points. It's all about value, sturdiness, and ease of pumping

Detail specifications of the Topeak Road Morph G Bike Pump

Morph technology in a road pump
Head: Presta/Schrader
High efficiency Single Action pump with thumblock lever
Flexible hose for easy filling and fold-down foot pads for easy pumping
Plastic/Kraton T-handle
Barrel: Butted Aluminum
Mounting Bracket Included
Capacity 160 PSI/ 11 bar

If you have any experiences with this pump, please share them in the comment

Story: How Far Can a Bicycle Take You in Uganda?

2013-03-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

In rural Uganda a bicycle is the key to many destinations. It can take you to be an entrepreneur offering delivery and taxi services, it can also increase the revenue from the crops since you will be able to transport your “Matoke” bananas to the nearest town and boost the price.

A bicycle here means better access to improved water sources, health services, schools, fuel wood, work opportunities and a better life.

“When I was a kid, all I wished when I grew up was to have a bicycle and a radio to be set. With the radio, I would keep connected with the world and the bicycle would take me anywhere I wanted” said Martin Tumwesigye a local driver from the UNDP.

Here, life is simple and simple things mean the world to someone like this boy in the picture. He proudly asked me to take a picture of him posing with his new bicycle. He had just bought it from a neighbor and now started his own business giving rides to little kids to school.

This article was originally written by Diana B Sierra from State of The Planet, a blog from Earth Institute of Columbia University

Bike Care: Ride Smoothly With a Clean Chain

2013-03-19T21:58:00.000-07:00

Chain is an essential moving part of a bike. It's consist of hundreds of plates, links, and rollers. While working they made plenty of frictions to make them being napless and corroded. In a good bike maintenance, chain is the first component you should care about.

You can keep your chain from being corroded by cleaning it regularly. Working with your chain is obviously not too hard. You can even use any old things like old newspaper and old t-shirt. Please keep in mind to have your bike outside while working with your chain as the lubricant can contaminate your floor.

The following tips provide some basic pointers for cleaning your chain, properly applying lubrication, and other ways to take good care of your chain

Do a "quick and easy" cleaning using a rag and some degreasing solvent.
You can get most of the built-up dirt, grease, and gunk off of your chain using this method.

Lean your up again a wall (or put your bike in a worksand if you have one) so that you're able to freely rotate the pedals backwards.
Take a rag and fold it over a couple of times, then pour or spray a generous amount of degreaser on it.
Wrap the rag around the lower part of the chain and hold it in place with your left hand while you pedal backwards using your right hand
Hold the rag firmly enough to wipe the gunk, but loosely enough that the chain is able to move freely.
Apply pressure to the chain alternately to the sides and the top and bottom. Remove and re-apply the rag so that you re-position the chain to a clean area of the rag.
Repeat this process several times until the chain appears about as clean as it's going to get.

For a complete and thorough cleaning, use a chain cleaning device.

A chain scrubbing device is ideal for giving your chain a complete cleaning. You fill it with liquid degreaser, place the chain inside the device and spin the pedals around (you don't have to remove the chain from the bike). As the chain moves through the device, several sets of brushes get inside all the nooks and crannies of the chain to thoroughly clean all the gunk off.

Apply lubricant to the chain and wipe off the excess

Shift your bike into the middle gear on your cassette or freewheel.
With your left hand, hold the tip of the chain lub bottle over the chain near the gears, and pedal backwards with your right hand.
Squeeze the lube bottle to make a light but steady stream onto the chain. You want to lube the chain only; it's not necessary to put lube on the gears
Keep spinning the pedals until you're sure you've gotten lube on the whole length of the chain and then take the lube bottle away, and spin the pedals a few more times and let it sit for a few minutes to be sure the lube has a chance to work its way into the rollers and pins of the chain
Then, take a clean rag and wipe away excess lube from the outside of the chain.

Best Bicycle Headlight

2013-03-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

Best Bicycle Headlight - If you are a regular bike commuter with 5 to 10 miles distance to office it's can be ensured you often ride in a dim condition, early morning and late evening. For your safety and pleasurable, bicycle light is a required equipment when you are riding in no-sunshine. You need a good bike light to illuminate your ways and let you see potholes in front.

Bike lights vary in quality and price, with the cheapest in the 2011 line under $20 and the most expensive around $480. You can find fine bike lights that illuminate well and are durable and built to last toward the low end of that range, while there are some can't-lose models if you have needs that demand top quality at any price.

While so many choices of good bicycle lights, in which can cause being confuse I'm trying to share several good quality bike lights from any brands for under $100.
Bike commuters need a medium power headlight which commonly available in a middle-price. The medium power highlights are powerful enough to provide bright lights that sharpen your roads. They are commonly has 2 to 3.5 hours lifetime. Rechargeable bicycle light could be a good option (See guide how to buy a bike light)

5 Best Bicycle Headlights Under $100

Planet Bike Beamer 5 LED Bicycle Light with Quick Cam Bracket Mount

Price: $27.99

Where to buy

The Planet Bike Beamer 3 Headlight is a well-designed and long-lasting lighting choice that has visibility up to 2,000 feet and can run up to 100 hours on 2 AA batteries. In addition to steady mode it has a flashing mode good for especially dark or dangerous situations. This is an extra-bright bike light with 5 white Nichia eXtreme v2.0 LED bulbs. A nifty feature on this model is the QuickCam bracket mount which adjusts easily and can be removed in seconds. Marketed as 4 times brighter than earlier LED lights the Planet Bike Beamer 3 Headlight is a hard-to-beat combination of illuminating power and long lasting performance.

Knog Beetle 2-LED Bicycle Light

Price: $9.99
Where to buy

Long lasting with 35 hours of constant lighting the Knog Beetle is a cleverly design light, and the best buy of the low-end market. A unique shape, flexible silicon body and integrated clipping feature and quick release give it an extremely functional design. With lighting at just under 1,000 feet the Knog is not the right purchase for commuters or off-road riders seeking maximum illumination, but it is a fine buy for casual users who don't need to invest in a high-end bike light. Design allows it to fit and function anywhere on your bike and it only weights 12 grams.

Cateye HL-EL135N Bicycle Head Light

Price: $14.99
Where to buy?

The HL-EL135 has three LEDs with OptiCube lens technology for a wider beam with excellent visibility. Featuring flashing and constant modes, as well as more than 320 hours of runtime. This is the perfect compact commuter light

Cygolite Metro 300 Lumen USB Rechargeable Bicycle Headlight

Price: $53.95
Where to buy?

Cygolite new 2-in-1 Steady Pulse illumination provides added safety by alerting motorists with flashes while constantly lighting your path. This light also features 5 light modes to enable you set your light mode in the medium, high or low level depending on the road condition. Installing the Metro 300 is completely easy via the Lock-tite handlebar mount. Not tools required and you can do it by your own. No need to go to a bike mechanic

Bell Dawn Patrol LED Headlight

Price: $8.68
Where to buy?

This light can illuminate an oval roughly 7 feet wide by 20 feet long when aimed about 8 feet in front of a bike. Comparing it to a high-tech flashlight with variable brightness, it seems to produce maybe 20 lumens (subjective). That may not seem like much, but the light is focused effectively for bicycle use. There is a dark ring and halo surrounding the center beam and enough side-scatter so you don't get tunnel-vision. The light weight of the body gives the feel of something that won't pitch up or down on its mount. It uses a typical clamp and rubber band spacers. There is a slide-forward clip so you can remove it in seconds if you want to sweep an area

Work While Cycling With The Active Desk

2013-03-15T01:42:00.001-07:00

It's usual to see people pedaling a bike at the road or bike path. But, how you can keep pedaling your legs while sitting in front of your computer?. Professor Jim Martin, a specialist in exercise science at the University of Utah make a brilliant breakthrough by developing a concept called Active Desk. What is it?

Quoted from its official page project, "Active Desk is an integrated recumbent exercise bike and desk with refined ergonomics for easy computer operation."

The Active Desk enable you to perform an exercise while working with your computer at your desk. All day long. The key to Active Desk is that you can be active all day long and keep the intensity low - no sweating, no heavy breathing, and no muscle burning.
The Active Desk can be an alternative for those who too busy or too tired after work to exercise. As you know that physical inactivity increases the risk of many medical conditions including heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and depression. The Martin’s idea aims to tackle growing numbers of overweight adults by introducing low intensity exercise into the daily grind.

The desk is currently in the prototype phase, and the university is attempting to crowdsource the funding to get it into full production. Early models are are already available for US$2,000.

So how, ready to keep cycle while working?.

Review - Cygolite Hotshot

2013-03-13T20:56:00.000-07:00

No matter what kind of ride you usually do, whether it's cycle to work or just cycling around. When you do that in a dark condition then bicycle light is a must. Bicycle light is a crucial piece of safety equipment for a night ride and it's required by law in almost all regions.

While cycling around at night, you need two kind of lights to be installed on your bike. One in front (head light) and another in rear (tail light). The headlight play a role to illuminate your way while the tail light can hugely improve your visibility to let the drivers see your presence. You may need $30 to $50 on good lights, but the medical costs from a single accident would far surpass that initial investment.

There are countless options to choose a good bicycle tail light ranging from cheap $3 flashers to blindingly bright $200 powerhouses.
And among those options Cygolite Hotshot is a good one to consider

Cygolite Hotshot 2-Watt USB Rechargeable Taillight

The Hotshot cast out the light from a 2W LED and it's powered by an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which gives it an impressive runtime between charges. Cygolite give you a chance to adjust the brightness and flash frequency on the go; The light has 4 different flash modes: single-flash, triple-flash, single-pulse, and an alternating bright/dim pulse.

Riding around with the Hotshot you will find the drastic difference than other taillights in the class. This light is the brightest you can find for under $50. The battery also lasts a ridiculously long time – on the triple-flash setting with the default frequency, it lasted for 120 hours before dimming. Even if you just recharge it once a week you would be fine

Where to buy?

As the battery is not user-replaceable though, it's better to charge it before long rides. Overall, the Hotshot is a great light: It's light, sleek and nice look, and has a long life battery, but there are a few downsides. It has a poor mounting mechanism. The screw is small, making it bit hard to install. The notches in the clip are small and weak, meaning that it doesn’t take a big bump to push the light out of position, and every time this happens, the grip loosens until you have to pull out your screwdriver again.

Another negative point is the control buttons. They are also a pain to use. Because the speed adjust button is right next to the power/mode button, it’s hard to operate properly with gloves on. It's take a single press to turn the light on, but the button is hard enough to press that you will not be turning it on by accident. Turning it off is also not easy. You have to hold down for more than 2 seconds until you see a brief final flas

Despite the issues with the mount and buttons, this light is without a doubt the best bang for your buck. The ability to reprogram the frequency and brightness is particularly appealing for those of us who ride in varied environments.

Cygolite provide the Hotshot in two versions: One with a USB charging cable (compatible with any computer or standard USB power adapter), and the other with the cable and a wall charger adapter.

To read other online reviewers please visit this page. Also visit here to see more options of bicycle lights and reflectors

Top 7 Reasons To Start Using Bike For Transportation

2013-03-11T03:43:00.000-07:00

How do you get to work?. Despite how much we hear about the rise of alternative transit, driving is still become the popular habit to get to work in United States and may be also many countries around the globe. If you see on some recent statistics, they actually show the significant growth of number of bike commuters. Within last 10 years the percentage of bike commuters show the positive movement. As many as 40 percent growth happened between 2000 to 2010.

While some studies showed that the number of bike commuter is significantly rising up, some apartment developers in the US even trying to give you a chance to live without car by developing a bike-friendly apartment concept.

So, did you still doubt to start riding a bike to your office?. We have the top 7 reasons why you have to start taking your bike from the garage and ride it away.

1.Bicycles produce no meaningful pollution when in operation
Bikes don't have tailpipes belching poisonous fumes into the atmosphere. They also eliminate the oil, fuel and hydraulic fluids dripped by automobiles onto the road surface — which means less toxic runoff into local waterways.

2. Bicycles are an effective alternative to a second car
Perhaps you're not in a position to adopt a bicycle as primary transportation. But bikes make great second vehicles. You can literally save thousands of dollars a year using a bicycle for workday commuting and weekend errands in households which might otherwise be forced to maintain two cars.

3. You can store a dozen bicycles in a single automobile-sized parking place
Parking lots have enormous environmental and financial impact, particularly in urbanized areas. The more bikes you can get on the road, the fewer parking spaces you need to build.

4. Bicycles provide mobility for those who may not qualify or afford to drive
Not everyone can get a driver's license (or wants one), and the cost of purchasing, insuring and maintaining a car is out of reach for a lot of people. Almost everyone can afford some sort of bike. Other than walking, bicycles are the most cost-effective transportation on the planet.

5. Studies show that bike commuters are healthier, more productive, and require less time off at work
This is why most enlightened employers are eager to accommodate commuting cyclists. Healthy workers are better workers — and that's good for the bottom line

6. Using a bike for transportation can help you lose weight and improve your overall health
Depending on your riding style and local road conditions, you could easily burn 600 calories an hour through brisk cycling. Most bike commuters report losing 15 to 20 pounds during their first year in the saddle without changing their eating habits.

7. Bicycling may be faster and more efficient than taking a car
Believe or not, but bikes are often faster than cars in urban areas, especially when city designers have set aside proper bike lanes. There's nothing more satisfying as a bicycle commuter than breezing past a long line of gridlocked traffic.

Portland Topped the Bloomberg Rankings Biking to Work List

2013-03-07T23:45:00.000-08:00

In early May, 2012, Bloomberg released a list of bike-to-work rates in 25 major U.S. cities. Portland city in Oregon topped the list with 5.44% number of bike commuters. Nearly 16 thousands of Oregon Workers cycled to work in 2010. The number is 5.44 percent of the city’s total workforce and represents increase of 1.29 percentage points from the 2006 survey.

Oregon is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the US and the number of bike commuters are growing massively. Instead of just riding to work, the Oregon residents use their bike for other daily transportation. Families take their kids to the grocery store on bikes with big cargo baskets.

Behind Portland, there are San Francisco in the second place and Seattle in the third. Just less than 3 percent of San Francisco employees cycled to work in 2010, an increase of 0.70 percent from 2006, meanwhile, just a few points behind Oregon was Seattle, with 2.80 percent of its 339,000 work force cycling to work in 2010.

To create this list, Bloomberg Rankings used data from the U.S. Census to identify cities with more than 250,000 workers in 2010. Bloomberg ranked 31 cities by the percentage of workers who ride a bicycle to work, and then subtracted the percentage of bikers in 2006 to come up with the percentage-point change over time. The ranking displays the top 25 based on percent of workers who bike to work

To see in what position your city is, view the entire Bloomberg Rankings Biking to Work list here

Source http://www.mnn.com/money/green-workplace/blogs/544-of-portland-workers-bike-to-work

Guide: How To Buy A Used Bike

2013-03-06T01:17:00.000-08:00

How To Buy A Used Bike? — There's no more earth-friendly transportation mode than a bicycle. The number of bike commuter is growing massively in many countries around the globe. Many people who previously used a car now turned to a bicycle. There are various reasons why they switched to a bicycle, however, the famous causes can narrowed to cost and environment.

Everyone know that bicycles is good for daily transportation. They are cheap to operate and don't pollute the air. They can provide many advantages for the user. Provide more miles per calorie of energy than any mode of getting around known to humankind.

To get started, you don't have to buy a new bicycle. A properly maintained bike is more than enough. So, a used bike is not too bad.
You can pick up a quality bicycle for a fraction of its original purchase price, and it will give you many years of reliable service. But you'll need to know what to look for.

Your local bike shop is the best place to find a ready-to-ride used bicycle. If the shop is of any quality at all, you can be reasonably assured their used models have been vetted, adjusted and are ready to hit the road. To minimize your disappointment you keep need enough bicycle knowledge to recognize which bikes are junk, and which are treasures.

If you have any question about the bike you have chosen, you can ask the stuff for inspection. Bicycles are simple and reliable, but they must be properly maintained for safe operation

So here are some things you should consider before purchasing any used bike.

Frameset
Carefully check the lugs or welds where the frame is joined together. Welds should be even. Cracking of any kind is a show-stopper. So are bends at the dropouts (where the wheels attach to the frame). There should be no play in the front fork. Small areas of oxidation or rust are primarily just a cosmetic issue

Handlebar
If you can see the hollow of the bars, you must replace the handgrips or bar plugs before saddling up. In an accident — even a minor fall — unplugged bars are an impalement hazard. The bottom of racing-style "butterfly" handlebars should be roughly parallel with the ground. Replace worn or missing bar tape.

Saddle
Replace torn or obviously worn saddles. There should be no play whatsoever. Generally speaking, saddles should be adjusted parallel to the ground. Sitting in the saddle, your leg should have a slight bend at the bottom of the pedal downstroke. If your pelvis rocks when you are pedaling quickly, the saddle is probably too high. Lower it bit by bit until the rocking goes away. Verify that the seatpost clamp is free of cracks or obvious distress.

Brakes
Check for worn or dried-out brake pads. These must be replaced, along with frayed or rusty brake cables. Braking should feel positive. Look for cracked or bent brake levers.

Drivetrain
Wiggle the crankset. Side-to-side play indicates worn bearings or an improperly adjusted bottom bracket. The same applies to pedals. Replace a chain if it's rusty or has frozen links. Chains and rear gear cogs become mated with use, so chain replacement may require the purchase of a new gear cassette. Spin the freewheel and listen for the chatter of broken bearings. Lift the rear wheel and verify that shifting is crisp through all gears. You should be able to shift into the largest and smallest rear gear without the chain jamming or becoming unshipped. If this isn't the case, the gearing requires adjustment. On bicycles with rear derailleurs, inspect the rear brake hanger for bends or cracking.

Wheels
As with the crankset, side-to-side play in a bicycle wheel indicates poorly maintained hubs. Squeeze the spokes with your fingers. The tension should feel equal across the entire wheel. Loose spokes indicate serious problems. Rims require periodic adjustment to remain "true" (straight). Stand over each wheel and use the brake pads as a visual reference. Spin the wheel. A small amount of side-to-side motion can usually be corrected. Up-and-down rim motion cannot. Rims should smooth and free from road impact damage. Tires should hold the rated sidewall pressure. Replace tires exhibiting dry rot, worn tread, damaged sidewalls or tears exposing inner ply.

Bike-Friendly Apartment Is On The Rise

2013-03-04T16:08:00.000-08:00

Study showed that the number of bike commuter is significantly rising up in many cities in the US and around the globe. As the number has grown, many apartment developers in the US developing a bike-friendly apartment for those who want to live without a car and totally turn to a bicycle as a daily transportation mode.

Many developers build apartment complexes to offer secure storage spaces for bikes. Some developers are even putting bike repair shops in apartment buildings

"I decided to live without a car, to take the leap," Said Rose Barcklow, a 31-years-old lady who lives in a Denver apartment that gives her easy access to the bike lanes that she takes on her 7-mile commute to work.
Barcklow feels so excited to live in a very bike-friendly apartment complex (Solera). She doesn't have to lug her two bikes up to her apartment because there's a secure storage area for two-wheelers, and she makes use of the "velo room" -- a tool-equipped workshop where she can pump up her tires, clean her chain and fix a flat.

Some apartments in North Portland also offering bike-friendly facilities. On North Williams Avenue, within a few blocks of each other, are a guesthouse, a bar and an apartment complex that all cater to cyclists, plus the United Bicycle Institute, which offers classes on bike repair. All are located on a major bike commuter route. Jean Pierre Veillet is developer of the building containing the apartment complex, called EcoFlats.

"Three thousand people ride their bikes by here each day," said Veillet

The American cyclists who own a house certainly can do pretty much whatever it takes: Put your bike in the cellar or in a locked garage to keep it secure. Build shelves or a cabinet to store helmets, cycling shoes, spare tubes, tires, tools and other gear. However, if you don't own your own house, keep in mind, an increasing number of apartment buildings are thinking about how they can meet your needs.

Source http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/01/18/bike-friendly-homes/

Cyclists in The US Save $4.6 Billion A Year

2013-03-01T22:01:00.000-08:00

You may say that your major reason of riding a bike is to improve and maintain your health. It's just a personal impact you can get from cycling. You may don't realize that cycling also teach you how to not become an unselfish person. Pedaling a bike meaning that you care about the environment. Bicycle runs by your legs which mean it's consume no fuel that can cause gas pollution

More Americans now turn to bicycle as daily transportation mode. Between 2000 and 2010, the number of bicycle commuters grew 40 percent nationwide.

By May 2012, a new data as quoted from Forbes.com, highlight that bicyclists in the United States save at least $4.6 billion a year by riding instead of driving. The data was released during the National Bike to Work Day which held on May, 2012.

The League of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, and the National Council of La Raza also announced that the average annual operating cost of a bicycle is $308, compared to $8,220 for the average car, and if American drivers replaced just one four-mile car trip with a bike each week for the entire year, it would save more than two billion gallons of gas, for a total savings of $7.3 billion a year, based on $4 a gallon for gas.

"There are so many reasons more people are riding, from improving their health to protecting the environment," Said Andy Clarke, the League’s president

"But, especially in tough economic times, bicycling can also be an economic catalyst, keeping billions of dollars in the pockets of American families."

Parts You Should Check Every Time You Ride

2013-02-26T23:16:00.000-08:00

Most cyclists (including me) don't want to be bother when riding. All they want to do is just go through. Start pedaling to spin the wheels and jump to the street. For our safety and to keep our bike in top working order let's eliminate this habit and beware to check our bike regularly every time we ride. It’s really important that you get into the habit of performing five simple maintenance checks whenever you ride.

Taking a few minutes to inspect our bike could help us prevent any unwanted things during the trip. Checking your bike is actually easy and all cyclists can do that. And, by checking your bike for the most common mechanical failures that can lead to a crash, you’ll be taking some very effective steps to ensure your own safety each time you go out.

So, below are some parts you should care about before start pedaling. For your safety and enjoyment

1. Tires and Wheels
Ensure they are properly inflated before you get on your bike. (Read the flat tire prevention). Take a quick look all the way around for places where the rubber might be cracked, gouged or worn. Also, check the nuts or quick release mechanisms that hold your wheels in place. Verify that your wheels are securely fastened so they don’t come out while riding

2. Brakes
Squeeze your brake levers to make sure that they apply enough pressure to stop your bike and that you don’t have any problems with fraying or stretched cables. Also eyeball the brake pads in the front and back to be sure they are hitting only the rims and not the tires. If your brake pads are squeezing the tires when applied it can damage your sidewalls

3. Seat Post and Handle Bar Stem
Ensure your handle bar is set at the right height and the stem is fastened tightly. For your comfortable and confident also make sure that your seat is set at the correct height

4. Chain and Gears
Last but not least. You should take your attention to your chain and gears to ensuring your chain turns cleanly through your front and rear sprockets and doesn't rub against the derailleurs. You can do this as you pedal when you first set off. At the same time, quickly run your bike through its range of gears to make sure there are no problems with rough shifting, chain slippage etc, and that the drive train is free from excessive grime and doesn’t need lubrication.

So, do you inspect your bike before start pedaling?. We're excited if would like to share your experience.

How Bikes Can Save Us? [INFOGRAPHIC]

2013-02-24T06:28:00.000-08:00

There are a number of great reasons why you should consider traveling to work by bike. It's an effective, healthy, inexpensive, and fun alternative that is attracting more commuters across the globe. The following points are the clever reasons to ride a bike to work:

High gas prices, Expensive car payments, Traffic delays, Road rage, Expanding waistlines.

Cycling to work may be a hard option for anyone who live in isolated areas and have long commutes, but there's a lot to be gained by leaving your car at home.
A study shows if 30 million urban and suburban midwesterners replaced half of their short car trips with cycling during the warmest six months of the year, they "could save approximately four trillion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, 1,100 lives and $7 billion in mortality and health care costs for the region every year."

Cycling to work is good for you and your environment. While it will maintain your endurance, pedaling to work could also increase the impact of air pollution on your health.

Check out the infographic below from Healthcaremanagementdegree.com and learn "How bikes can save us."

Security Alert: Best Way to Lock A Bike

2013-02-21T20:35:00.000-08:00

There are several ways you can do to avoid or at least prevent your bike getting stolen by irresponsible people. Bicycle lock is the key part of defense against bike thieves. But, merely locking your bike without following the proper method still contains the huge risk. There are several rules you should follow for securing your bike. We've narrowed them to 4 Principle of Bike Locking

Having your bike stolen can be frustrating and costly. So the best option is reducing the chance of losing your bike to a thief by always locking your bike properly using the best locks. There are many existing bike lock brands in the market and Kryptonite seems still the best one.

Using more than one style of lock can also help thwart a thief who is carrying the tools for cutting through only one type of lock.

The primary component in better securing strategy is a mini u-lock. This u-lock goes through the back wheel (inside the rear triangle of the frame), securing the bike to something solid.

This approach locks the rear wheel and the frame, even though you're not technically not even locking the frame!. it's impossible to pull the frame away from the wheel when the lock is positioned in the triangle of the bike frame.

The second method of this strategy is to secure the front wheel via cable look, skewer, or even a second u-lock. This is to unsure your front wheel is secure. Front wheels aren't that expensive so it's unlikely a thief will break out tools to only steal a front wheel (they will steal it if the front wheel is not secured at all though).

Want More?. Try the double u-lock method

This may sounds excessive, but you can use the double u-lock method. As it's heavy to carry around 2 locks, you can use this method only when leaving the bike in bike theft prone areas for extended periods of time.

So, do you have any better methods? Share them at the comment

Make Your Ride Enjoyable By Preventing Flat Tire

2013-02-21T04:20:00.000-08:00

Getting a flat tire is definitely an unhappy thing, but when it's occurred there nothing you can do but change your tire immediately. Flat tire is a real enemy for all bike commuters, indeed. However, you actually can prevent the undesirable thing to happen by taking care about them (tires).

It's right that there is no 100% effective way in preventing you from getting a flat tire on your bike. But, it's better than do nothing. Right?.

You have the number options to reduce your chance of getting a flat tire. Paying attention to your tires is a good option to do. Not only before get started to pedal, but also after finished your ride. Inspecting your tires regularly could extremely reduce a flat tire risk so you can enjoy your ride.

Here the things you can do

Tire Pressure

The first thing you have to notice is the pressure. Always ensure you are riding with the proper tire pressure. Each tire has a preferred air-pressure range which is measured in psi (pounds per square inch). You can see the recommended pressure on the tire sidewall. If you ride using a road bike your tires should run between 100 to 140 psi and 60 and 80 psi for urban and casual bike. Under-inflation can lead to problems with "pinch flats." This can occur when you hit a bump and your under-inflated tire compresses all the way to the rim, causing 2 small holes that resemble a snake bite. Over-inflation, on the other hand, doesn't cause flats although it's possible to blow out the tube in extreme cases.

You can use a tire pump or gauge to check your pressure. Higher-end tire pumps will include a psi gauge, but if you have a lower-end pump, you'll need to carry your own tire pressure gauge. Be sure to know whether you have a Presta or Schrader valve stem (the slimmer Presta valve needs to have the top nut unscrewed before checking pressure).

Inspect Your Tire After and Before Ride

Another good strategy you can do to prevent flat tire is inspecting your tires periodically. You need to inspect your bike tires for embedded glass, rock shards or other sharp objects, especially after riding a route that has substantial debris.

Periodically please check your tire sidewalls and tread for excessive wear, damage, dryness or cracking. Tires with any of these symptoms increase your risk for a flat tire. If unsure about their condition, ask a bike pro at your local REI or other reputable bike shop to evaluate your tires.

Consider Tire Liners

A tire liner is a thin strip of extruded-plastic that fits between the tire and the tube. This extra layer greatly reduces the chance of puncture flats from thorns, glass or other sharp objects. Liners are popular and work well, but they do add 6 oz. or more to the weight of your tires which adds noticeably to your rolling resistance in higher performance tires. However, if you live in an area with lots of thorns or road debris, liners could be well worth the weight

Tube Sealants

This option is handy because you can repair an existing flat tire with it or use it as a preventive measure to avoid future flats. The concept is simple: Squeeze in a bit of sealant through the valve stem to coat the inside of the tube. In the case of a small puncture or cut, the sealant quickly fills the leak and creates a plug that often outlasts the tube or the tire around it.

The last and simplest way but could make your pocket being "agony" is change out your tires to ones specifically designed to resist flats. This is the best option for those who have overwhelming budget.

So how, ready to return to the roads with a new feeling?

5 Steps To Adjust Bike Spokes

2013-02-19T17:15:00.000-08:00

Before getting your first pedal, just like we used to discuss, you should inspect your bike to ensure it's ready to hit the tracks. It's important to know how your bike operates so that when some problem are occured you are able to fix them. The basic repairing skills will save you a lots of time and well, money.

Wheel is the vital component of your bike, its rims and spokes must be periodically adjusted to maintain proper alignment.

While working to adjust the spokes you can also wipe them down to remove excess grime and any dirt at once. Remember, even bike spokes typically don't require a lot of maintenance, adjusting your spokes will ensure that your ride is smooth and safe, somehow.
There are two ways to work adjusting your spokes: Removing the wheel from your bike and turning your bike upside down. We would use the second method as the first one could waste much time.

Step. 1
Turn the bike upside down, resting it on the seat and handlebars. If you have a wheel truing stand, use that to get at the wheels. Either way, make sure the bike is stable before you begin to work on it.

Step. 2
Spin the wheel, either clockwise or counterclockwise. Use the brake pads as a reference point. Watch the rim of the bike to find if the wheel does not move in a perfect circle. Where the wheel comes close to the brakes is where you'll need to adjust the spokes

Step. 3
Take note which side the wheel comes closest to the brake. This is the side you'll want to adjust the spokes. (Notice that there are two sides of spokes on a bike wheel.)

Step. 4
Use a spoke wrench to tighten the spoke by placing it on the nipple. Start with a quarter turn and then go back and evaluate how the wheel spins. If it still needs additional adjustment, do another quarter turn.

Step. 5
Make sure that when you finish adjusting the spokes, the rim spins in the center and no side of the wheel moves closer to the brake pads.

5 Methods to Teach Your Kids to Ride A Bike

2013-02-18T09:11:00.001-08:00

Cycling is not only done by a young adult, all people from kid to grandpa can ride a bike without any limitation. The many advantages of riding a bike making people love pedaling a bike. For kids, cycling can be a good media to learn the environment around and build a positive culture.

Riding a bike is not only good for their future, but it's also good for our earth, somehow. So, inculcating a cycling culture could be a real challenge for some parents and you have to take your first step - Teach them how to ride.

Learning to ride a bike is one of the toughest skills a child will master. Balancing, peddling, turning and stopping. That’s a lot of coordination of moving parts and it’s what is required for children to learn how to ride a bike successfully. With a little patience and a lot of practice, most children learn to ride successfully around the age of 4 or 5.

We discovered some good methods to have your kids taking their first experience to sit on the saddle. Below are 5 ways you can try to teach your kids to ride a bike

1. Starting with a tricycle
Tricycles allow your little heroes to become comfortable with the concept of riding a bike without having to worry about the balance. Its allow kids to focus on peddling and steering, without having to worry about balance or breaking. They are short to the ground, so the fall factor is minimal. Less falls tends to equal more confidence.

2. Using a balance bike
What is balance bike? this is a kind of bike built without peddles and other related parts. A balance bike allows children to focus on balance and steering. A child first gets comfortable walking the bike around while straddling it, then moving it around by foot when sitting on the seat, and finally when he is comfortable enough, coasting short distances while sitting on the seat and lifting his feet, ala Fred Flinstone.

3. Opting for training wheels
Many parents have been using training wheels to teach their children how to successfully ride a bike for years. Training wheels help a child keep balance and help to keep the bike upright. When riding with training wheels, children are focused on peddling, steering and stopping. Once they have mastered those skills, the training wheels can be removed and the child can focus on learning to balance without the added support of the third and fourth wheels.

4. Going straight the bike
Perhaps the most popular or at least most classic way to teach a child to ride a bike is to put the child on the bike and to run beside him as he peddles. Doing so helps a child keep his balance as he learns to ride. Once the child is peddling, the parent lets go and the child continues to ride until he stops or falls. This method definitely requires the most bandages, but it is a time-tested stradegy.

5. Using a trailer bike
Many children enjoy learning to ride on a trailer bike, also called a tandem bike, because of the instant gratification that comes along with it. The trailer bike is attached to the parent’s bike and the child gets to peddle while the parent remains in control of the ride. For children who are becoming frustrated, this can be confidence building tool and an encouragement to try riding solo again.

Ref: http://www.momtastic.com/parenting/tips-and-tricks/173735-5-ways-to-teach-your-kids-to-ride-a-bike

In Denmark, Commuters Have More Reason to Cycle

2013-02-15T18:31:00.000-08:00

In the last April, 2012 Denmark has completed a bike superhighway to encourage individuals who live more than five kilometers outside of Copenhagen to leave their cars at home and cycle to work. This is the first of what will eventually be a network of 26 bicycle “superhighways”—smooth routes exclusively for Danes who wish to commute into Copenhagen by pedal-power alone.

Denmark is one of the bike-friendly country in the globe with half a million people already cycle to work every day.

Copenhagen superhighway, part of an ongoing $47 million expansion of Denmark's bike transit system, gives commuters in the Danish capital even more incentive to ride to work. As quoted from The New York Times, the 11-mile route is equipped with air pump stations, foot rests and hand rails for fatigued bikers, and the "Green Wave" -- a supposedly endless succession of green lights, if you keep your speed at 12 miles an hour. The superhighway also features homogenous signage and smoothly paved, broad, even paths that are kept free of debris and ice

A feature in The New York Times explains that while the Danish bicycle superhighway may be a significant ‘green’ project, it is not something that grew specifically from an environmentalist movement within the government. Political parties on both the left and right note the health benefits of bicycle commuting, while socially, cycling is considered to be simply a more efficient, practical way to get from home to work or school.