Those crazy germans have designed a bike that completely eliminates the need for dirty chains, cranks, seat posts, seats, and silly pedals. It’s called the FLIZpedal-less bike, according to a story on TreeHugger.com.
While it’s not the most practical bike-variation I’ve seen, it has the benefit of actually working, unlike some other prototypes. I doubt it’ll catch on because, unlike on a bike, you have no gearing, but it’s still an interesting idea.
One upside is an incredibly high bottom bracket height. Wonder if they’ll ever make a mountain bike version? To see this in action follow the jump for video evidence.
As we’ve been hearing over and over lately, cycling shoes are not for walking. We don’t see to have a problem clomping around pretty much anywhere in ours, but then we rock mountain bike shoes 24-7. For those who like to get out of their road cleats during a ride two New Albany, Ohio women have a solution. Marjie Hancock and Jill Beckett-Hill invented folding flip-flops called FOOTbrakes.
FOOTbrake is uniquely designed foldable footwear about the size of a mobile phone. For the serious biker out on weekend excursions, the clunky clip on footgear is not built for time outs along the road. Now, bikers can park their bikes, shed their clip-on shoes and slip on the Footbrakes to give their feet a much needed brake.
When we leave on a ride we’re not exactly thinking about lounging around half way through, but if you’re just touring maybe packing a pair of folding flip flops is just what your soft feet need. Footbrakes retail for $24.99 and are available online. Follow the jump for the official details. [click to continue…]
Charlotte, North Carolina isn’t going to put up with any funny business during the Democratic National Convention. That’s why they’re launched a crew of bike cops (just like the one’s Tampa, Florida used for the Republican Convention), according to a story in Biz Journals.
Another Tampa innovation that promises to move to Charlotte and beyond is “fast moving packs of law enforcement on bicycles.” Tampa police chief Jane Castor says this form of policing may become a fixture in the future, and not just in Tampa, where 200 bike officers from around Florida patrolled downtown.
More cops on bikes means more cops who know what it’s like to deal with cars on the road. And that has to be good for everyone.
Apparently, Bill Becker (the inventor of Elev8 Bikes) hasn’t seen an adjustable seat post before. If he had he’d probably realize there is no reason for his overly complicated suspension cruiser bike designs. Then again, why do research when you’ve got an invention in mind. It’s the American way.
Apparently, Pacifico paid for this little reminder of how great summer riding in Downieville, California really can be. Kind of makes us wish there was more summer left.
SRAM’s road PR manager Michael Zellmann said Contador asked SRAM for the longer-cage derailleur in advance of the Vuelta. ” Going back, he was originally part of the development of WiFLi years back when some of the steeper stages required much lower gears than were offered,” Zellmann said.
There now appears to be hope for the rest of us who would occasionally like to run mountain bike sized cassettes on our road bikes.
Tyler Hamilton’s new book The Secret Race doesn’t officially go on sale until tomorrow yet still the accusations keep coming. The latest to be questioned is Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank’s Bjarne Riis, according to an Andy Hood story on Velonews.com.
In his new book co-written with Daniel Coyle. . . Hamilton alleges that Riis introduced him to controversial Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, who was the center of a worldwide doping ring revealed in the Operación Puerto investigation in 2006. . . Riis has refused to respond to journalists’ queries during the Vuelta a España, where team leader Alberto Contador — back from a controversial doping ban for clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France, where he rode for Astana — is riding for the victory.
And yes, this is turning into a much bigger deal. Click the link for the rest.
