bikes

LightLane draws virtual safety path around bikers

Yay for this. I can't count the number of times I've had to swerve wide of cyclists to avoid one of those tense situations between wary bikers and impatient drivers vying for road dominance. It can be particularly challenging for people in countries where there's no bike lane set aside for bipedal locomotion. So having something like the LightLane go from concept to commercial production would be good news, indeed.

This patent-pending little gizmo was originally created for a design competition. Although the concept did not win, the inventors received an encouraging response and are continuing development.

The product clips onto the back of the seat bar, uses super-bright red LEDs and two high-visibility diode-pumped solid state green lasers to project a virtual light path on the ground around the cyclist. The result is a recognizable boundary that's clearly visible to drivers.

Hopefully, when this device finally goes to market, the transport authorities will make it compulsory as a safety add-on for all cyclists. Watch a video after the jump.… Read more

CyFi Bluetooth bike speaker hits the streets

Sometimes, working with a very specific type of tech product for so long will make one doubt whether anything truly unusual is ever going to flutter in through the mail slot. I was in just such a slump when I came across the CyFi Wireless Speaker while researching fitness-friendly tech. This unique, bicycle-mounting gadget seemed like just the ticket for active types who shun the gym in favor of hitting the streets on two wheels.

Far be it for me to look down my nose on anything that encourages cyclists to shun dangerous earbuds in favor of a safer way … Read more

Chrome debuts new Corsair and Vega commuter bags

Chrome started with a couple of guys in Boulder, Colo., who set out to built a bag that could stand a lifetime of daily abuse. Eight years later, the operation is now based out to San Francisco, where Chrome bags have become the staple of bike messengers, students, and packrats alike. Today, Chrome also announced its sojourn into the techie commuter market with the release of two stripped-down, laptop-friendly bags: the Vega and Corsair.

The Vega draws inspiration from the classic "musette" bags used to feed cyclists in the middle of a big race. Since weight is everything to these pros, the bags have to be minimalist and utilitarian, and the Vega is no different. It's light, tough, and can easily fit up to a 15-inch laptop.

It's important to stress the tough material used in the build: 1,000 denier Cordura material, a heavyweight nylon with a urethane coating to protect from water, abrasian, and grime. Make no mistake about it: these are some of the toughest bags you can get.… Read more

Odyssey Bikes teams up with Aaron Ross, rolls out BMX collection

Who said nerds eat onlyjunk, never exercise, and rack up 1-900 bills while living in their parents' pool houses? Well, now we know at least one of those isn't true.

Pro BMX rider Aaron Ross partnered with Odyssey to produce this signature BMX set that features a clever keyboard pattern spelling out the name of the rider.

The full set includes two-piece, multibutted chromoly bars; a set of 145 millimeter Krayton Rubber grips; and a special T-shirt all bearing the same design. Available now on DansComp or the Odyssey's Web site.

Pics of the full set after the jump.… Read more

Cordarounds keep bikers in bright sight on light nights

Cycling commuters are forced to deal with a million obstacles on the ride to and from work. In urban areas, cars remain our biggest foe, largely because people don't make the effort to look out for our blinking lights. Plenty of companies offer cycling-specific clothing, but they're terribly unflattering in all the wrong places.

But check this out: Cordarounds has developed these Bike to Work Pants. The inside of the pockets and pant cuffs are actually made from a material that reflects lights, thus increasing a cyclist's visibility and safety.

In "daytime mode," the pants … Read more

Podio music player adds a soundtrack to your bike ride

Listening to headphones while riding a bike is obviously dangerous, and yet I see so many fellow cyclists mashing around with wires dangling from their ears. Why? Well, that's easy: because everyone loves riding to a soundtrack.

Unfortunately, there are too many important road noises (honks, sirens, etc...) that deserve attention, so music has to take a back seat...that is, unless you have the Podio, a digital audio player with a built-in speaker specifically designed for jamming in the bike lane.

The portable Podio includes a special bracket that easily mounts onto a set of handlebars. You can … Read more

Nonstationary stationary bike for getting your swerve on

I only run when chased, so biking has always been my preferred method for a cardio workout. However, I've never been much for stationary bikes or spinning. The RealRyder ABF8 spin bike, however, might change my mind. (Though I doubt I'll have the $1,995 to buy one anytime soon.)

Instead of a rigid ride, the bike has an articulating frame letting you lean, steer, and sway from side to side as if you were on a typical road bike.

The company claims the instability allows for a more complete workout, engaging core and upper-body muscles since you … Read more

Racing on the waves

Aqua Moto Racing is an attractive, addictive, and highly replayable 3D Jet Ski racing game--and one of the best games of its kind available on the iPhone and iPod Touch. You control your Jet Ski with simple, intuitive controls: you tilt your device right or left to turn (the farther you tilt, the tighter the turn), and you touch the left side of the screen to brake and the right side to "boost." This temporary speed increase uses the "boost" meter, which you recharge by passing buoys closely and performing stunts off of ramps. Performing tricks … Read more

Lance Armstrong begs twitterati to find his bike

Lance Armstrong seems like a man with an abundance of life's gifts. Women, calves, Tour de France victories.

However, someone who chooses to "live weak" snuck into his team's truck in Sacramento, Calif., and pilfered Mr. Armstrong's time trial bike. I am assuming that one of his entourage may have informed the police of the heinous event.

Mr. Armstrong himself, however, turned to the one force he can trust. Yes, his 112,000 Twitter followers. With a huge great heave of emotion coursing through his every vein, he penned: "Someone stole my time trial … Read more

iPhone apps of the week

One of the most popular iPhone apps of 2008 wasn't a game or productivity app, or even a random sound maker. Surely many iPhone users reading this post have downloaded the app called Koi Pond, or have at least seen it on a friend's iPhone. It's one of the first programs I start up whenever I'm showing off my iPhone because it combines excellent ambient sound, crisp graphics, and you can make waves and "feed the fish" by swiping or touching the screen. There is no real goal to Koi Pond beyond enjoying watching … Read more