RoadCycler.com

A wind-up bike light and cell phone charger in one

Justin Cooper — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:45:58 +0000

The Powerplus Swallow is certainly an interesting concept. It’s a windup bike light and phone charger in one. Now, I’m pretty sure this won’t outshine our favorite light, the Planet Bike Blinky Superflash, but you never know. According to the ECOutlet (cute…), the light will shine intensely for 8 minutes for every 1 minute of winding you do. Also, 1 minute of winding will give you 2-8 minutes of talk time or 20-30 minutes standby time. Ok, I admit, this could be useful if it worked well. The next time ...

Bike shop teaches you how to build your own bamboo bike

Tyler Cooper — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:48:48 +0000

NPR is running a great article about a Brooklyn, NY bike shop that teaches you how to build your own bamboo bike. Not only do you get the priceless bike building knowledge, but you also get to keep the bike. In our article from July of this year, we talk about the rise in bamboo bike sales for Calfee bikes in the UK. The downside is that Calfee bikes will run you nearly $5000. You can build your own bamboo bike at Bamboo Bike Studio for around $1000, and most of ...

IKEA custom bike rack hack

Justin Cooper — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:58:28 +0000

The Ikea hacker blog has a pretty slick bike rack for a lot less than many commercial bike racks. They’ve hacked an Ikea Stolmen post to turn it into a two-bike indoor rack (although, this could be used in a garage as well, I suppose). The parts for the rack will cost around $60, and take about a 1/2 hour to build, depending on your skills. From the blog: he says, “there are a lot bicycle storage/rack-systems on the market, but none of them met my expectations in function/style and price. i ...

The Bontrager Wingtip cycling shoe

Tyler Cooper — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:04:46 +0000

Bontrager has definitely stepped outside of the box with their new Wingtip cycling shoe. The shoe features laces that are covered by a buckled leather strap, and a nylon reinforced rubber sole. The Wingtips are SPD compatible, so you aren’t limited to toe-cages. While I don’t think you will see these strapped to the feet of Lance Armstrong, Bontrager is hoping to find a niche group of cyclists who want to stand out. No word on pricing, or availability just yet. Read

Audio Bike music system reviewed

Justin Cooper — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:04:58 +0000

The Daily Peloton has a review of the “Audio Bike” music system specifically designed for the biker that likes to train to music, but also considerate of others, and is safety conscious. The system consists of a mount, speakers for each of the handlebar ends. The speakers have batteries that need to be charged, but do look pretty unobtrusive on the bike. The mount looks pretty useful as well, especially if you have an iPhone or iPod touch. From the review: Riding alone, I did feel a bit self-conscious pedaling through the city with ...

Bright Bike V2.0 kits now available

Tyler Cooper — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:05:49 +0000

Bright Bike kits are the brainchild of Michael Mandiberg. They are simple DIY kits for making your bike much more visible to cars at night. Just look at the video on the Bright Bike website for a better idea of exactly how dramatic the difference is between a bike with the kit, and without. Whats included for the $15? From their website: After a year of testing, we are releasing DIY Kits for an updated version of the Bright Bike. The kits come in two types: Caterpillar and Pinstripes. The Caterpillar has ...

The New York Times cycling gift guide

Tyler Cooper — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:38:42 +0000

The New York Times has put together a terrific gift guide for cyclists. There is one twist, however. Everything in the gift guide is a product made in NYC. You also won’t find the classic gifts like multitools, or bike pumps on the list. They have put together a list of thoughtful, and unique gifts for any bike enthusiast. The Times has put together a really interesting list of items ranging from a hat by Fifo Cycles, a book by David Byrne, or a custom made Johnny ...

Wiggins leaves Garmin for new British cycling team

Justin Cooper — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:01:10 +0000

Bradley Wiggins, the surprise contender in the 2009 Tour de France, has made the decision to leave Team Garmin, and will join the new British cycling outfit “Team Sky”. Team Sky was announced in February of 2009, and has some lofty goals (more on this later). Wiggins will definitely be one of the stronger riders on this team. From CNN.com: Team Sky officials were delighted to add Wiggins to a roster that already features Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard, Russell Downing, Peter Kennaugh, Chris Froome and Steve Cummings. Team Sky’s first major race ...

MIT creates ‘bike 2.0′ with smart wheel technology

Justin Cooper — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:39:23 +0000

Taking a queue from the hybrid car designers, MIT has shown off what it views as the future of must-have bike accessories. The concept, called the Copenhagen Wheel, is a set of intelligent components encased in the rear wheel; a battery, electric motor, bluetooth to communicate speeds to an iPhone, and various other tech. As you slow down, the sensor detects the speed change, and uses the braking to charge up the battery. As you speed up, the sensor detects this, and kicks in the motor to help you out ...

Bamboo bikes on the rise?

Justin Cooper — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:54:57 +0000

The folks at the UK Guardian were lucky enough to ride a bamboo bike made by the bike designer and manufacturer Craig Calfee. Calfee is known for his high-quality handmade carbon fiber bikes, and his bikes made out of bamboo are nothing short of amazing. Bamboo is an incredible material that is mostly environmentally friendly (according to the Guardian, Calfee uses responsibly grown bamboo too). After reading the following quote, I’d love to try one of Calfee’s £3,000 (~$4,900) bamboo bikes: When I first sprint off, nothing happens for a split second, ...