Jun 13
Jun 04
Most of the time, you don’t need a bicycle fender except the few times that it rains when you’re out and about. We all know that when it starts to pour, your wheel will send lots of dirty water all over your rear end, which can get really annoying.
The Musguard is a very simple, removable bicycle fender that can be rolled up and stored on your frame or in one of your pockets. It weighs about 35g, and requires no tools or special mounts to install. It’s die-cut from recyclable polypropylene plastic sheets. From what I can tell, the concept works best for bikes without a rear brake caliper, and probably works best with a disc brake.
The project was launched through Kickstarter, and with 17 days of funding left, it’s amassed $21,000 out of a $10,000 goal, so it will be fully funded. You’ll need to pledge at least $20(USD) to get your own.
May 31
The company known as Organic Transit has made an effort this year to show off a vehicle known as ELF, letting it be seen for the first time at the international technology trade fair known as CeBIT. This machine is made to fill a previously un-touched niche between car and bicycle, made to work with users hoping to make their short commutes as easy as possible.
This machine works with a solar-powered motor that assists with pedaling, runs on three wheels, and comes in at a height that’s the same as a sedan. As this vehicle can “go anywhere a bicycle can”, it’s allowed to traverse more than just the road, allowing for cross-over movement that’d be hindered with a motorcycle. As it works with a motor, it’s not as restricting to a rider’s time as a human-powered unit is.
“Many commuters have thought about taking their bikes to work, but worry about staying fresh, falling over, climbing hills, carrying groceries, getting caught in the rain or even safety. ELF takes care of those concerns with a covered body and a solar-powered motor that assists in pedaling. Commuters can use the motor on the way to work and then pedal as a workout on the way home.” – Rob Cotter, CEO, Organic Transit
One way to work, one way back, allowing for more than one method for getting either way. Organic Transit has pushed this unique set of abilities to the public with an initial sales run of 120 ELF cars, all in their first three months. Once limited supply is up, they’ll be able to ship more of their 1,200 pre-orders.
Though the idea that this machine is allowed most places a bicycle can go might surprise those that find the base cost of $4,000 USD to be a bit hindering, but considering the complete lack of a need for gas has had its effect. This machine works with solar power, you must keep in mind, and with the same amount of power “equivalent to one gallon of gas”, this vehicle can travel 1,800 miles.
The company making ELF is located in Durham, North Carolina, and they assemble each unit in a warehouse in downtown Durham “for all to see.” Cotter has made plain his intent to follow this model of downtown urban locations for offices so that the work on these vehicles can be seen by the public.
Let us know if you see an ELF hitting the streets where you live soon – we’ll be trying to track down a few of our own. ELF races, here we come!
VIA CeBIT
SOURCE Organic Transport
ELF rides the line between car and bicycle for green future is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
May 31
Instructables member KlockworkKevin made a generator attachment for his bicycle. Even though he mostly used scrap parts for the generator, he was able to avoid making the whole thing an eyesore by hiding it in plain sight. When not in use, the generator is neatly hidden under KlockworkKevin’s patio table:
When he’s ready to burn some calories and charge some batteries, he just flips the table on its side and attaches his bike:
Here’s a demo of the generator (turn your volume down before you play it):
Wouldn’t it be awesome if all gym equipment worked like this? Head to Instructables to read KlockworkKevin’s walkthrough.
[via Inhabitat]
May 30
For July onwards, cyclists who happen to reside in Boston will be able to rent helmets from solar-powered vending machines which have been strategically stationed right beside popular Hubway spots (which so happens to be the city’s bicycle sharing system that was introduced to mainstream consciousness last summer). This particular concept for Helmethub hailed from a dozen MIT undergraduates and was first revealed during their 2011 Product Engineering Final Presentation, where courtesy of a product-design course that required the students to think up of building prototypes from scratch in the span of a single semester. There was no looking back since then, as the company has worked round the clock in order to refine their product offering so that it can be ready in time for the masses in the near future.
Each of these solar-powered vending machines will be able to store three dozen helmets and boast of a touchscreen similar to those on Hubway rental kiosks. Rentals will cost you approximately $2, while riders who figure out that they will be doing a whole lot of biking for a long time to come might prefer to settle for purchasing a helmet outright instead. Once you are done with your helmet, you can always return it to the location that you are dropping off your borrowed bike, where the helmet will then be sent to the company’s headquarters to be inspected and sanitized prior to the next distribution move.
Source
[ Helmethub concept lets you rent bicycle helmets copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
May 24
If you’re looking to trick out your bike, Magura’s eLECT might be the electronic suspension system you crave — if you’re willing to sacrifice optimal reaction time. Using a 3D accelerometer, the eLECT analyzes terrain with a 0.2 second window to adjust to how bumpy or smooth your ride is. At first glance, 0.2 seconds seems impressive, but it equates to a distance of 3.6 feet when traveling at 12.4MPH. Indeed, on challenging trails, a lot can happen in 3.6 feet, and eLect’s reaction time might be a touch on the slow side. While the system isn’t quite perfect, it does offer some sweet options. For example, cyclists can toggle between automatic and manual control of the compression damper using the accompanying Bluetooth remote. Magura’s eLECT isn’t the first of its kind — RockShox and Fox both have their own e-suspension systems — but it’s one of the lightest; the combined weight of the damper and remote is a mere 0.2 pound. There’s no word yet on availability or pricing, but you can check out the results of Bike Radar’s test ride at the source.
Filed under: Peripherals, Transportation
Source: Bike Radar
May 24
May 20
Technologically bent cyclists have their choice of advanced bicycles these days, but it’s a little hard to justify getting a specialized vehicle if your existing two-wheeler still functions just fine. However, swap your bike’s handlebars with one of these handsome aluminum ones from Helios and all of a sudden your beloved ride is equipped with a 500-lumen headlight, a pair of rear-facing RGB LED indicators, Bluetooth 4.0 for smartphone communications and, yes, even a built-in GPS. Join us after the break as we give you a brief tour of the Helios Bars and how it’s well worth its $200 price point.
Gallery: Helios Bars at Maker Faire 2013
Source: Helios
Apr 29
When Specialized’s Turbo e-bike launched last year, it was almost too fast for its own good when it couldn’t legally be sold in Europe and the US. The American riders, at least, won’t be held back now that the Turbo is on sale in their country. The US version costs an eye-watering $5,900, but it can reach the same 27.9MPH peak speed through its combination of pedal power and the 250W of typical output from the electric motor. With that kind of performance, it could almost pay for itself — who wouldn’t want to blow past rush hour traffic in the bike lane?
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Specialized
Apr 25
Bicycle-mounted generators are nothing new – many of them are used to power bicycle lights, for instance. But what makes the Siva Cycle’s Atom generator unique is its removable battery, which means you can preserve the electricity you worked for and use it at your convenience.
The Atom generator is meant to be attached to the rear axle of your bicycle. Once it’s installed, you can use it to charge pretty much any mobile device while you’re riding, as long as you have a USB cable for your device. But as I said, the Atom also has a 1300mAh removable battery pack, so you don’t have to bring your device with you for the Atom to be useful.
Pledge at least $95 (USD) on Kickstarter to get an Atom generator as a reward. I wonder if you could hook it up to a small motor to make a hybrid bike that you could recharge on the go.
[via OhGizmo!]
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