The Archives
DIY bike tire chains
This is cool: Homebrew tire chains for your mountain bike involves less than $20 in chain, cabling, and ferrules, not counting the tools you might need to get if you don’t already own them. Via. That reminds me of this tip in which you can use zip ties to improve traction a little. Both the…
Xtracycle Build Up : Parts Bag
Arleigh is building, documenting and writing out her build up of a Salsa Ala Carte mountain bike with 650b wheels and a Xtracycle Free Radical Kit. This is an on going series so stay tuned for more installments. One thing that is a bit daunting if you aren’t mechanically inclined is the huge parts bag…
Bike Trailer Videos Part 5
Bike Trailer Videos 1 Bike Trailer Videos 2 Bike Trailer Videos 3 Bike Trailer Videos 4 This post is a continuation of Josh’s Video blog series. This week we will be looking at Bike Child Trailers including consumer demos, reviews and a Burley Crash Test video. Enjoy! The first video is a quick demo of…
Salsa Fargo, 29er Touring
We’ve decided to start a new section of the Bike Trailer Blog to feature bikes we like. These will generally be bikes for touring, commuting and carrying cargo. To kick this this off, I thought I’d post up this new touring machine from Salsa. The Salsa Fargo looks like a great touring bike for mixed…
YOU can be in the Bike to Work book
Update: Carlton says he has several fantatic response — enough for the book, so please don’t send any more. Carlton Reid and Tim Grahl have been working on a Bike To Work book. Carlton is looking for real life stories from newbies and oldies alike. See QuickRelease.TV for details.
Strida 5.0 on the bus and train
Strida’s publicity material brag about their folding bike’s “umbrella like folding.” While folding this bike is amazingly fast and easy, it does not fold to the size of an umbrella, unless you have a 20 pound umbrella with wheels. While the Strida doesn’t fold exceptionally small, it can have a smaller footprint because you can…
Fenders and flaps
Just a quickie post for the weekend: Plans for Coroplast election sign fenders have been floating around on the Internet for years. You take those leftover election signs, cut them to fender size and shape, then zip tie them to your bike. You should be able to figure it out by looking at the photos…
Biking in the rain safely
I covered equipment and rain the other day and several people provided very helpful comments on biking safety in the rain. Here’s my contribution to the discussion. Visibility is paramount! I’m not normally a safety ninny, but consider what you can and can’t see when you’re in a car with the windows fogged up and…
"Extreme Security" from Kryptonite`
Introducing the New York Legend bike lock…. Kryptonite had this monstrous chain lock on display at Interbike last September. I nearly herniated myself when I lifted this beast from the display. Kryptonite says the 3T tempered steel 15 mm rounded links and its provided Kryptonite New York Padlock provides “extreme security for high crime areas.”…
Commuter Story: Witnessing Karma
From Bicycle Soup: I approached a red light, started slowing and took my rightful place in the center of the right lane (on the four-lane section of West Main Street) where I settled into my normal track-stand. Behind me I could hear the approaching rumble of a big ol’ something-or-another. […] I slowed slightly, then…
Your bike in the rain
I’ve heard people express concern about their bikes in the rain. As long as you keep up with some simple, basic maintenance, your bike should be just fine. Here are the simple things to keep your bike running well through wet weather. Fenders and mudflaps not only keep wet and dirt off of your body,…
SpokeAndWord.com – Weekly Update
We’re starting up a weekly update of good blog posts that we’re submitted and we enjoyed reading over at Spoke And Word. Some of the most best posts: Snow’s right around the corner. Get out your Pedal Powered SnowPlows Using Lemon Pledge to Clean Up Your Bike A Recipe for a Giant Do-It-YoSelf Bike Trailer
Pearl Izumi Sprint Shoes : Initial Thoughts
Roughly a month ago I blew threw my favorite pair of do all cycling shoes, Sidi Dominators. They have had a good life, and just needed a cleat repair so I put them on the rack until they could be repaired and went hunting for a new pair of shoes in the shop. Originally the…
Fitting BOB Trailer Parts on a Yakima Big Tow
For about 5 or 6 years, Yakima was manufacturing what I consider to be a “knock-off” version of the BOB Trailer. This trailer, named the Big Tow, utilized a trailer-to-bike mounting system with feature very similar to BOB Trailer’s patented mounting system. Yakima agreed to pay a royalty to BOB Trailers to use this system….
Spoke and Word
Like you, we’re all avid bike blog readers here. I personally read as many as I can find, big and small. If someone took the time to write about it, it gets added to my Google reader. Of course, I have almost 1,000 unread messages and over 40 blogs in there, but that doesn’t stop…
Win a Cannondale Bad Boy Bicycle
You can win a Cannondale Bad Boy Bicycle by designing the next great commuter bike! If you have an idea for a bicycle that might persuade the average person, with no prior interest in cycling, to park the car and pedal to work, then the commuter bike design contest sponsored by Cannondale might be for…
How cold is it?
Thanks for the tremendous response on if you plan to ride over the winter or not. I saw a lot of great questions that I hope to investigate over the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, the U.S. national weather report shows rain and snow over much of the U.S. Midwest today. I’m supposed…
Beware Being Doored: Broken Bones & Bicycling Blues
Cyclists beware, this is a rough season. It’s that time of year again here in Flagstaff, Arizona. Fall, that hazy season in between summer and winter. Chilly in the mornings and warm during the day with the occasional wind advisory. All bicyclists know to be cautious when riding alongside cars in busy areas. Riding as…
Light up Your Trailer, the mLite Sale
The days are getting shorter and its much easier to get caught out after dark on the commute home or with that afternoon ride. If you’ve got a cargo or child trailer in tow, we’ve got a clever light that will mount on your bike trailer’s safety flag for extra high up visibility. We’re celebrating…
WSJ: Commuting on two wheels
Video from the Wall Street Journal. Many Londoners are using a greener way to get to work, especially when looking to cut costs. MarketWatch’s Kim Hjelmgaard explains why bicycling to the office is more attractive than ever.
Xtracycle Build up : Anatomy
Arleigh is building, documenting and writing out her build up of a Salsa Ala Carte mountain bike with 650b wheels and a Xtracycle Free Radical Kit. This is an on going series so stay tuned for more installments. Now on to explain the Xtracycle frame what all the holes, poles and brackets are for. Going…
Commuting 101: Carrying Your Laptop
I’ve often noticed that many of the people I see commuting by bike are technical or business folks, working in IT or other white-collar positions. I, like many of them, have to carry a laptop to and from work. This usually brings up questions. On my personal blog, the question was asked again: “[Do you]…
Review of the Carry Freedom City Trailer
My girlfriend and I went on a bike tour through Northern England and Scotland last month. We had the opportunity to test out an Orbit touring tandem from JD Cycles. With somewhat complicated travel plans, we decided that the Carry Freedom City trailer would make for the easiest overall travel experience. Our Plans: 1: Fly…
Russ Roca on Discovery Channel
I profiled bicycling photographer Russ Roca in the current edition of Momentum Magazine. He also appeared recently on the Discovery Channel, where he was featured in a short segment as the Eco Friendly bicycling photographer. Here’s video of that show. Russ uses his cargo bike to haul himself and his photo equipment around the Los…