There are always problems when you’re trying to balance a lot of stuff on a bike. It either all in bags on the handlebars, or in one of your arms or in a backpack. It messes with your center of gravity. But at least with these Growler Cages you can transport your growlers (as you often do) from point A to point B without having to worry about anything.
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Bike sharing systems like New York’s Citi Bike may be taking off, but it’s doubtful that many participants can find every station without checking a map. Thankfully, Adafruit has unveiled a smart helmet project that could help at least a few of those riders get to their destinations while keeping their eyes on the road. The DIY effort feeds locations to an Arduino-based Flora board and its positioning add-ons, which in turn use a string of NeoPixel LEDs on the helmet as turn indicators. Commuters just have to watch for blinking lights to know where to go next. While the system isn’t easy to set up when cyclists have to manually enter coordinates, it is flexible: the open-source code lets it adapt to most any bike sharing system or headpiece. As long as you can get over looking like a Christmas tree on wheels while you navigate, you can build a smart helmet of your own using the instructions at the source link.
Filed under: GPS, Transportation, Alt
Source: Adafruit
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.
Summer is the prime season for European cyclists, whether they’re racing the Tour de France or just embarking on voyages of self-discovery. It’s a good thing, then, that Google Maps’ biking directions have reached six more European countries. Those in France, Ireland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Poland can now plot pedal-friendly routes using their phones and the web. Google may miss a hidden trail or two when it’s crowdsourcing the data through Map Maker, but the upgrade should still help riders avoid the inevitable crush of tourist traffic.
Filed under: Transportation, Internet, Google
Source: Google Europe Blog
During any form of physical exertion, most people don’t think about breath until they’re gasping for it. The most advanced exercisers among us are conscious of trying to breathe lower, into their bellies. But there’s an even better way, and making this simple switch will get more oxygen into your blood, faster. More »
Scosche promised a soundtrack to our biking and hiking when it unveiled the BoomBottle back in January; conveniently, it’s shipping the Bluetooth speaker right as the spring thaw lets us give the peripheral a proper workout. The outdoorsy among us can now spend $150 to get a dust- and splashproof stereo system that fits into a bike’s water bottle holder, or on a backpack through a carabiner, and plays for 10 hours on a charge. We’ll have to wait, though, if we want a dash of color while we bombard other travelers with our taste in music. Gray versions are available now or very shortly at Scosche’s site and Walmart, but more season-appropriate blue, green, pink and yellow hues will only sell through Scosche in May.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video
Source: Scosche
LifeBeam is kicking off an Indiegogo campaign for a new smart cycling helmet that uses smart sensors to track your heart rate.
LifeBeam is an Israel-based startup that thus far has specialized in aerospace technology that is used to track the vital signs of fighter jet pilots and astronauts. Instead of bulky chest strap monitors, Lifebeam uses their own specialized sensors that are built into the helmet to track their heart rate and vitals.
The people behind LifeBeam then asked themselves, “What if we put that technology into a smart cycling helmet?” Thus this helmet was born.
The aptly named SMART is just that. The helmet uses Bluetooth to relay all the information the LifeBeam sensors collect instantly onto monitoring devices, fitness watches, and smartphones.
LifeBeam has little experience designing and producing bicycle helmets, of course, so it’s turned to the popular cycling gear outfit Laser Sport to handle things on that end of the business. The finished product, if LifeBeam can raise enough money, should be a pretty handsome looking cycling helmet with some very high-end sensing technology.
“We are proud to present the world’s first smart cycling helmet,” LifeBeam says in their IndieGogo video. “Our unique sensing technology, partnered with Lazer Sport helmets, create high end cycling helmets that allow continuous measurement of heart rate and motion.”
LifeBeam is seeking to raise at least $50,000, and a starting contribution of $149 will get you your very own SMART helmet. If you’re an avid cycler and this seems like something you need, you can check out their IndieGogo page here.
Biking down to the store to pick up a two liter of soda is one thing. Bombing down a steep street at full speed, throwing all caution to the wind is another, and Marcelo Gutierrez is a pro at it. This is is winning run from the recent Valparaiso Urban Downhill competition, and it’s enough to make your palms sweat. Good job Marcelo, but next time I want to see some unicycling. [Reddit] More »
Last September, Wahoo Fitness’ RFLKT iPhone bike computer appeared on our radar poised for a December release, but it’s only just gone up for sale. As of today, the iPhone 4S- and 5-compatible device is available for $130 from Wahoo’s website and is shipping out to door steps. If you’re in need of a refresher, the RFLKT (pronounced reflect, if you’re curious) sits on a bicycle’s handlebars and displays ride information slung to it over Bluetooth 4.0 from cycling apps running on a paired device. RFLKT is expected to support a number of apps in the future, but it currently plays nice with just two: its maker’s own Cyclemeter application and the Wahoo Fitness App, which monitors everything from speed to heart rate, with the help of another peripheral, of course. Cyclists can also push buttons on the contraption’s side to change tracks on their iDevice’s playlist. Ready to infuse your ride with at-a-glance stats? Check out the source link and the video after the break.
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Wahoo Fitness
As the weather starts to (eventually) warm up, cyclists will inevitably begin coming out of the woodwork to enrage drivers and terrify pedestrians once again. But how, you might ask, does the cycling businessman about town distinguish himself from the fanny-pack-wearing hipsters on fixies? With fancy leather accessories like this Detroit Cargo Handlebar Bag, naturally. More »
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