Columbus Rides Bikes!

Lisa Haney FACEBOOK TWITTER GOOGLE+ SAVE E-MAIL SHARE PRINT My twin grandsons, now 13, walk nearly a mile to and from school and play basketball in the schoolyard for an hour or more most afternoons, when weather and music lessons permit. The boys, like their father, are lean, strong and healthy. Their parents chose to live in New York, where their legs and public transit enable them to go from place to place efficiently, at low cost and with little stress (usually). They own a car but use it almost exclusively for vacations. “Green” commuting is a priority in my family. I use a bicycle for most shopping and errands in the neighborhood, and I just bought my grandsons new bicycles for their trips to and from soccer games, accompanied by their cycling father. My son used to work in New Jersey, which entailed a hated commute by car that took 50 to 90 minutes each way. He quit that job when his sons were born and, working part-time from home, cared for the boys. He no

SEIL bag is designed to show left and right signals. Simply, controlling the detachable wireless controller enables various signals. Our SEIL Bag is part of a revolution in "wearable IT". We want to bring the future of style and technology integration to the world! The SEIL Bag is designed in order to illustrate traffic signals such as the cruise signal, stop signal and emergency signal directly on the backpack. Since the SEIL bag debuted in public in 2010, we have been doing our best to bring this project to real production. Now we have streamlined manufacturing and finalized the mobile app, so it's time to go live and bring our revolutionary project exclusively to Kickstarter backers. [Kickstarter]

Construction has started on the Olentangy Trail for the new Goodale Street Bridge and Trail Connector.  This new connection will be an important link to the Central Ohio Greenway system by increasing access to the Grandview Heights and Harrison West neighborhoods.  A new bike/ped bridge will be built between Olentangy River Road to near Michigan Avenue.  A new ramp will also connect Goodale Street to the Olentangy Trail.  During construction, the trail will remain open and caution signs will be posted marking areas of construction.  Please use extreme caution and slow down when passing through the construction zone---workers and equipment will be close to the edges of the path.  See rendering HERE. http://parks.columbus.gov/TrailAlerts.aspx

MORPHER: Folding Helmet Technology from Guillaume Borkhataria on Vimeo . Morpher® is an incredibly innovative new helmet which folds flat for easy portability! Morpher folds & unfolds quickly and simply so it's perfect for cyclists who want to carry a helmet more easily. Patented worldwide, Morpher has been designed to surpass all relevant safety standards. At Morpher we believe in a greener planet, so we've ensured that our helmets and their components are completely recyclable. Morpher is aimed at all cyclists. Eventually it will also be marketed to other users of sports safety helmets (skiers, skaters, snow boarders, hockey players, horse riders etc). Morpher's flat profile will allow innovative selling methods such as at vending machines placed by major bicycle hire points. [Morpher Helmet]

Flint, Michigan, is probably best known as the poster child for population loss and de-industrialization, as captured in the Michael Moore movie, “ Roger and Me .” The Saginaw Street road diet and walkability improvements have made downtown Flint increasingly attractive to business. Image:  Detroit Free Press Though this town of about 100,000 has never fully recovered from the loss of 30,000 General Motors jobs that was the subject of that film, Flint is becoming known for its innovative strategies dealing with population loss. Flint’s  Genesee County Land Bank  is a model for other post-industrial cities throughout the country. Here’s one innovative new idea out of Flint that was a long-time coming and should be emulated in cities across the Rust Belt. Flint is planning to reduce excess vehicle capacity on its streets by implementing road diets that make room for walking and biking. Road diets “are central” to the city’s in-progress regional plan, known as Imagine Flint,

Spybike bicycle trackers are covert GPS devices that hide on your bike Arm them when you lock your bike and they will notify you if someone moves it You can then track your bike online or on your phone and find out where it has gone using our free realtime tracking service Dont let the thieves get away with your pride and joy! 1. Arm the tracker with your keyring Arm the tracker when you lock your bicycle 2. A thief steals your bicycle   SPYBIKE is disguised to look like a normal topcap so the thief is unaware of its presence 3. SPYBIKE sends you an SMS message   SPYBIKE contains a motion sensor. When it detects prolonged motion it will wake up and send you an SMS message so you know immediately your bicycle is moving 4. SPYBIKE begins tracking Your bicycle's journey will be tracked and stored in our database. You can follow along on your computer or mobile phone [Spybike]

At the core of a Bike Fixtation self service bicycle repair kiosk is our High Security Vending Machine that has been designed and tested to reliably vend bicycle products as large as a U-lock! A common candy bar machine simply cannot withstand the vigors of the urban environment or outdoor weather. You can now expand your bike shop's reach without the expense of a new store location, offer a necessary resource to your local cycling community, or start a small business and support bicycle infrastructure at the same time. The Bike Fixtation High Security Vending Machine is extremely rugged, built to withstand inside and outside conditions, and has internal cooling and optional heating for cold climates. It has unique features that make it extremely resistant to vandalism and is the most rugged transparent-front vending machine available. It can be configured to accept all major payment methods including coins, bills, and credit and stored value cards. You can eve

Travis Lewis, 6, rides his bike on Esplanade Avenue during Saturday's Play Streets Ciclovia event. Wearing a small cape, 6-year-old Travis Lewis raced his bike down Bayou Road, veered onto North Tonti Street and roared back down Esplanade Avenue, circling Gayarre Place park where his sisters Bre'ianna, 10, and Bre'ale, 6, constructed a small city using large blue blocks provided by the nonprofit Play Build. All along Esplanade Avenue, from North Claiborne Avenue to North Broad Street, hundreds of people came out Saturday to enjoy the fall weather and take part in a number of activities such as hula hooping and yoga as part of Play Streets Ciclovia, an all-day event presented by the city's Fit NOLA partnership and Bike Easy. But the focus of the day was bicycling as the city closed off one lane of Esplanade Avenue and transformed it into a giant ciclovia, the Spanish word for bike path, as part of  Mayor Mitch Landrieu's  continued efforts to become one o

Drop-Stop 1x10 1x11 Chainring The unique wide/narrow tooth profile of Wolf Tooth chainrings helps prevent chain-drop when running a 1x10 or 1x11 gear setup. No front chain-guide is required provided you have a clutch-type rear derailleur. Our chainrings have been thoroughly tested with SRAM XX1, X0, X9 Type 2 as well as Shimano Shadow Plus rear derailleurs. Wolf Tooth chainrings are machined from 7075-T651 billet aluminum on precision CNC equipment and anodized black. Our tooth profile requires much more machining time and tighter tolerances than a standard chainring but the results are worth it. Say goodbye to bent and misaligned chain-guides and say hello to easy drivetrain setup and maintenance. Best of all, you are not locked into just one drivetrain brand or a specific crankset -- we make chainrings to fit almost everything.  All Wolf Tooth Components products are proudly made in the USA.

Biking to lunch at 37 weeks Posted on   October 24, 2013 by   Melissa @ HerGreenLife In biology,  indicator species  are used to determine the health of a given ecological region, with their presence (or absence) indicating either good or poor conditions. In the world of bicycle advocacy and planning, women are often considered the indicator species, as described in  this Scientific American article  about getting more cyclists on the roads: Women are considered an “indicator species” for bike-friendly cities for several reasons. First, studies across disciplines as disparate as criminology and child ­rearing have shown that women are more averse to risk than men. In the cycling arena, that risk aversion translates into increased demand for safe bike infrastructure as a prerequisite for riding. Women also do most of the child care and household shopping, which means these bike routes need to be organized around practical urban destinations to make a difference. At prese

bird's-eye view Hovenring Eindhoven (the Netherlands) designed by ipv Delft from ipv Delft on Vimeo .

Last year I wrote a  review of bike taillights   that turned out to be quite popular. I’ve been asked when I’m going to do a similar review for headlights, and I’m pleased to announce that the results are now in! Over the past few months I’ve been testing about a dozen different headlights. So far I’ve mostly been using them in my daily biking travels, getting a sense for their real-world pros and cons. In addition to my personal impressions, I’ve compiled information about battery life, brightness, and other features. Later on I’ll be adding in more quantitative brightness measurements and taking beam comparison pictures. In case you missed it, I’ve also been trying out some new taillights, which you can read all about in the   2013 Taillights Review . Table of contents: Data table The Headlights  (For direct links to each light’s full review, click the light name in the summary table) Beamshot photos Recommendations What’s next Continue reading at  http://bicycles.bl

I covered a  large number of taillights last year , but some new products have come out since then, so I’ve been taking them out for some rides to get a sense for how they stack up. Almost all of the new lights in the past year have been rechargeable – AA(A) powered lights are declining in popularity, and for good reason. It’s easy to spend $15-20 per year on batteries (if not more), so paying a little bit more for a rechargeable makes sense. The  winner of the 2012 tail light review  was the Cygolite Hotshot. At the time, it stood out for its brightness, versatility, and for being the only reasonably priced rechargeable on the market. Cygolite hasn’t released a new taillight in the past year, but there’s a lot more competition in this category now – bright, rechargeable lights in the $30-50 range. Why choose a rechargeable light over a standard light + a set of standard NiMH rechargeable batteries? (If you do go this route, get Sanyo Eneloops  – everybody says they’re the

From the Groovy Cycleworks site I'd been searching for just the right bar to decrease the pain in my wrist and elbows after an intense ride. The current crop of alternative bars just did not seem to do it for me...too much sweep, not enought rise, too weak...   Let me introduce to you the Luv Handle...built of 4130 aircraft steel or 3/2.5 Haynes Titanium. The bar sports a gentle 4 degree rise and a 21.5 degree back sweep, meeting the natural anatomic position of your wrist and hands to allow for reduced stress on the supportive structures resulting in all day comfort and control. The design allows you to use your current stem and the grip section is long enough to mate with any combination of shifters and brake levers...just slide them on and hit the dirt.    (From bottom to top: Ti, Ceramic, Steel clear powder, Black Powder, Custom paint x 2)     The steel bars offer a super stable platform that is perfect for those desiring a strong bar and flex free ride. Mate

Kim Ludbrook/European Pressphoto Agency Until his bike slid out of control while he was going 35 miles an hour downhill around a sharp turn, Dr. Harold Schwartz thought cycling accidents were something that happened to other people. Now, after recovering from a fractured pelvis, Dr. Schwartz, 65, the vice president for behavioral health at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut, has changed his mind. “No one is immune,” he said in an interview. Like many avid cyclists, he is convinced that it is not  if  you crash. It’s when. But Rob Coppolillo, 43, who was an elite level amateur bicycle racer for 10 years, led cycling tours in Italy and regularly rides in his town, Boulder, Colo., begs to differ. He’s never had an injury more serious than a little road rash, he says. “For the vast majority of us, it’s a pretty safe sport,” he said. Who is right? Although many cyclists have strong opinions on the safety of their sport, the answer is that no one really knows how safe it is, or whet

Quickshift from Retroshift on Vimeo . CX 2 For bikes with double or triple chainrings. Compatible with Caliper, cantilever, mini-v and road disc brakes. Black or silver brake levers and a choice of Red or Grey shift mount. [Retroshift]

Hal Grades Your Bike Locking from Streetfilms on Vimeo .

Bicycle Anecdotes from Amsterdam from Streetfilms on Vimeo .

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's vision of Chicago as a bike-friendly metropolis found itself in the cross hairs of an alderman's proposal for a $25 bike tax Wednesday. South Side Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd, floated a plan to charge bike owners an annual $25 registration fee as a way to raise millions of dollars next year and provide an alternative to the mayor's proposal to hike cable television taxes to bring in about $9 million. Dowell also said she wants to require bikers to take a "rules of the road" safety class. Emanuel, who this month led a bicycle tour of the Logan Square neighborhood as part of Chicago Ideas Week, said he would look at Dowell's plan. But he then linked his pro-cyclist agenda with recent success in drawing technology firms to the city, and essentially laid out why he almost certainly won't support the idea. [Keep reading at Chicago Tribune]

From aero bars to Team Zed, the Cyclist's Alphabet is now available for your walls. Two-wheeled enthusiasts from everywhere can appreciate both the technology and history behind our favorite mode of transportation with all 26 letters illustrated on 18x24" True White French Paper stock. Printed and signed 2nd edition of 250, with a few of the illustrations updated. US Shipping for one is $7, and $15 for international situations. Add one dollar for each additional poster, up to three  (that's as many as I'd feel comfortable getting into the packaging) . © 2013 Seth Neilson [See more at  My Outdoor Alphabet]

Great Use For Old Train Tracks Ohio to Erie Trail sign near Plum Road The thing I love the most about Delaware County is its ability to show me urban excitement and country serenity in just a few short miles. It’s one of the few unspoken secrets about where we live: Delaware Ohio is the perfect mix of everything. Hands down, my favorite way to experience this duality is via the Genoa Township Bike Trail. Riding the Trail Entrance to McNamara Park from The Genoa Township Trail Bike trails are seemingly popping up all over the place. Next time you’re on Google Maps, click on Bicycling and watch the map flip over to reveal the bold green spaghetti strings of bike paths all over Central Ohio. Delaware County has several paths, but one of my favorites has to the Genoa Township trail. In six short miles, you and your family can enjoy a healthy day outside on what is a beautiful and relatively easy ride. [Keep reading at DelawareO.com]

Check out :40 in and you will see a few familiar faces from Columbus Tour de Troit 2013 from Tour de Troit on Vimeo .

A DESIGNER, WHO SYMPATHIZES WITH BOTH CARS AND CYCLISTS, CREATES WEARABLE TECH TO SAVE LIVES. There are more cyclists than ever in cities today, a fact that isn’t lost on city planners and administrators. Streetscapes are changing accordingly, as they are amended to accommodate bike lanes. The result is a healthier urban environment with a robust transport network. But tensions inevitably arise when such different transportation beasts as cars and bikes travel side-by-side in such intense proximity. Drivers don’t always respect the line of demarcation separating the two vehicles. Bike lanes aren’t treated with the deference afforded car throughways, so cyclists are frequently forced to dart into the main road (or onto sidewalks) to avoid collision. Then there's the fact that people, whether in cars or on bikes, can behave recklessly to the point of injuring, or at least antagonizing, those with whom they share the road. Continue reading at  http://www.fastcodesig

Starting with the competition proven design of our Cross Racer, the Cross Racer Disc adds the incredible stopping power and mud shedding capabilities of disc brakes to our performance driven frame set . Borrowing the same geometry and spartan layout from the Cross Racer, the Cross Racer Disc features a 2-degree sloping top tube, aggressive bottom bracket height and Paragon Disc Specific rear dropouts. The Cross Racer Disc comes equipped with an Enve™ CX Disc carbon fork, painted to match and a Chris King I7 InSet™ 44mm taper compatible headtube for increased front-end rigidity. Inspired paint scheme : Each year we will create a new Inspired paint scheme. Our intent is to pay homage to an iconic design motif while outfitting the Cross Racer with fresh look for the coming cross season. For 2013 our Cielo Cross Racer and Cross Racer Disc framesets draw upon the Le Mans winning Aston Martin’s for inspiration. Raced in the late 50s on demanding courses like Targa Floria, Nurburing, and

Pablo Blazquez Dominguez / Getty Images We know that Europeans love their bicycles — think Amsterdam  or  Paris . Denmark  even has highways  specifically for cyclists. Indeed, earlier this month,  NPR's Lauren Frayer reported that Spain , which has long had a love affair with cars, is embracing the bicycle: For the first time on record, Lauren noted, bicycles outsold cars in the country. But it's becoming a Continent-wide phenomenon. More bikes were sold in  Italy  than cars — for the first time since World War II. This prompted us to look at the figures across the 27 member states of the European Union for both  cars  and  bicycles . New-car registrations for Cyprus and Malta weren't available, so we took them out of the comparison. Here's what we found: Bicycle sales outpaced new-car sales last year in every one of those countries, except Belgium and Luxembourg. The top five countries by bicycle sales can be seen in the top chart. [See more at NPR]