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Showing posts from January, 2015

Specialized FATBOY PRO #letsride @iamspecialized

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All the fun of a fat bike with the performance of a Specialized. The Fatboy Pro combines a lightweight frame, RockShox Bluto fork, and 4.6" Ground Control tires to create a geometry similar to Specialized 29er geometry for nimble handling in the most extreme conditions. Fully butted M4 Premium Aluminum frame w/ up to 5-inch tire clearance is lightweight and stiff RockShox Bluto RL Solo Air spring shock w/ TurnKey damping for traction in all conditions Fat 26" disc, alloy single wall rims are designed to handle even the worst terrain Specialized Ground Control Fat 26x4.6" tires roll over anything Race Face Next SL crankset w/ 100mm spindle is built for power no matter the terrain Shimano XT, hydraulic disc brakes w/ Ice Tech pads and rotors for max stopping power SRAM X0, 11-speed derailleur w/ carbon cage for reliable and precise shifting [See more at Specialized]

Changing Gears

Changing Gears from Bruna Martini on Vimeo . Changing Gears is a 20 minute short film, showing the journey of 5 young Londoners as they cycle from London to Brighton. Having never met before, and each from different backgrounds and life stories, the film is a look at the transformative potential of the bicycle in bringing people together and breaking down barriers. On show is an insight into the sense of freedom and independence young people gain from a bicycle in a city, the worries and problems they face growing up there, and how they react to new geographies outside London. Screened at Look Mum no Hands in London in September 2014

Against The Elements - Bikepacking Through Wales

Against the Elements from Ian Barrington on Vimeo . A three day bikepacking trip through Wales, starting at the Great Orme and finishing in Llanwrtyd Wells. After enduring two days of near constant wind and rain, there was one last challenge before we made it to Llanwrtyd. Riders: Neil, Gian, Andy & Me. Cameras: Contour +2 & Olympus SH-21 Music: Alt-J - Estocada

Review: Showers Pass Refuge Jacket and Pant–the Perfect Fat Bike Shell

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After two solid years of year-round fat biking in Colorado, with seasons that seem to change quickly to bitter cold, I have been enthusiastically searching for the Goldilocks of shells to wear while riding my fat bike. My criteria: a lightweight shell that can handle the brutal minus-something cold of the Rockies, but versatile enough to be my go-to jacket for cool fall days. Last season I went to several stores and tried on countless jackets and pants, after making do with my snowboard apparel the previous season. I left all of those establishments disappointed. Enter the Showers Pass Refuge series. While not specifically designed for fat biking, this jacket and pant are a product of forward-thinking garment engineers who obviously spend a lot of time in the outdoors. The shells are versatile enough to use for skiing or mountaineering, but with obvious cues to cyclists such as the drop down tail and reinforced seat and shoulders. Breathable and flexible, the jacket is the perfe

Will cycling see the return of the solid tyre?

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Korean company Tannus Tires claim to have built a solid tyre that 'will compete with' regular pneumatic ones. Tannus Tires have developed a solid tyre that 'will compete' with regular tires Credit: Tannus Tires A Korean tyre company has come up with a solid bike tyre that it claims will compete with the regular pneumatic variety. After being launched three years ago in Asia, Tannus Tires are hitting the UK market. Using a newly developed compound polymer called Aither, they offer the prospect of punctureless riding with a rider-friendly level of comfort and rolling resistance. Solid tyres are nothing new. They’ve been around as long as the bicycle itself but were quickly superseded when Dunlop made the first practical pneumatic bike tyre in 1887. Typically heavy and giving an uncompromising ride, solid tyres have trailed in their wake ever since. But Tannus’s European sales manager Jazz Walia says: “We won’t convert everyone but people need to forget w

The Road

The Road from Christopher Riley on Vimeo .

Brooks Land’s End to John O’ Groats Panniers

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Our new travel panniers are named after the famous “Land’s End to John O’ Groats” cycle route which traverses the length of the island of Great Britain between its two furthermost extremities. Hundreds of cyclists attempt this 874-mile route yearly, facing the challenges of Britain’s inclement weather. The panniers are waterproof, light and durable to meet the demands of long distance cyclists, without sacrificing style. The closing system of the bag featuring a stylish leather insert enables cyclists to adjust the volume of each bag from a minimum to a maximum, as follows: -JOHN O' GROATS Front Panniers min/max 12/15 l -LAND'S END Rear Panniers min/max 19/23 l (Our Land's End pannier no longer features the outside pocket, there is however a small zip pocket and a larger map style pocket on the inside). [Brooks]

Gevenalle CX and Shimano STI comparison @Gevenalle

Gevenalle CX and Shimano STI comparison. from Gevenalle on Vimeo .

Introducing: The NFD

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NFD National Forest Development roads are used to access our wilderness spaces and are often found in very wild and unkempt conditions that require a sturdy and reliable vehicle.  My NFD was developed with these roads as inspiration for discovery and adventure well off the beaten path.  Built for the B+ format tires for sure-footed and comfy travel. I don’t know about you, but the size of these tires looks spot on.  Then there’s the luggage, expertly crafted by  Porcelain Rocket.   The Alfine 501 8 speed rear hub and the Son generator hub wired to the B&M Luxos U for charging capabilities.  Me? I may just go out on this beast and never return.  Somebody feed my animals for me? The frame is designed for backpacking, unapologetically.  The suspension exists in the 27.5 x 3.25″ tires and will not fit a suspension fork.  It is also designed around a PF30 BB to give options to run that BB, an eccentric for single or internal geared drivetrain, or Shimano 24mm with the right a

Bicycle Traveler Magazine January 2015

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Bicycle Traveler Magazine January 2015 In this edition: An unexpected adventure Maya Goldstein discovers that Central American hotels aren't just for sleeping in. Interview Amaya Williams Amaya talks about the process of putting together a trip photo book. A life in a day A day's thoughts while cycling in Patagonia. Equipment information and more… Download this issue here!

10 Common Misconceptions about Randonneuring | Off The Beaten Path

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With Paris-Brest-Paris coming up this year, a lot of people seem to be interested in randonneuring. They like the idea of a challenging, but not competitive, sport. Many brevets feature great scenery, a sense of adventure, and wonderful people to ride with. Unfortunately, all to often, I hear people say:  “It sounds wonderful, but I couldn’t do it.”  In many cases, that isn’t true. Most randonneurs, myself included, are pretty average people. Here are ten  common misconceptions  about randonneuring: [Keep reading at Off The Beaten Path]

Tips for Treating Cyclists Saddle Sores | CyclingInform

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Saddle sores can become a serious problem that can create havoc for any cyclists working to a weekly training schedule. Once the cyclist’s saddle sore becomes serious enough it can ruin weekly goals and force you to stop training. It is very important to prevent saddle sores from even developing. Here are some tips… [Keep reading at Cycling-Inform]

Dutch Suburbs Are Like America’s, and Protected Bike Lanes Work Fine There | StreetsBlog

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People the in U.S. street design world — sometimes even  people who write for this very website  — regularly say that U.S. development patterns mean that Dutch street designs can’t be immediately adopted in the States. That’s a lot less true than you might think. Of course some ideas can’t/won’t port over wholesale. But especially by European standards, the Netherlands is actually probably one of the most spatially similar places to much of the U.S. Guess where this is: Count the fast food signs, the car lanes all leading up to a big freeway underpass. If not for the protected bike lane this could be Anywhere, North America. But this is actually in Amsterdam proper. The reality is that only a minority of Dutch people live in the medieval centers of Amsterdam, Gouda, and Utrecht. Though many tourists visiting Amsterdam for a couple of days don’t typically see this, many Dutch people’s daily reality includes stuff much more like this: [Keep reading at StreetsBlog]

Garmin vívoactive™: GPS Smartwatch for the Active Lifestyle

Winter Day Cruisin

Winter Day Cruisin from chris childs on Vimeo .

The Leatherman Tread: 25 tools you wear on your wrist

Katy Trail Missouri

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The Katy Trail is a 237 mile (386 km) trail stretching across most of the state of Missouri.  (Use this link if you're looking for the  Dallas Katy Trail ).  Over half of it follows Lewis and Clark's path up the Missouri River, where you can ride beneath towering river bluffs while eagles circle overhead.  After leaving the river, the trail meanders through peaceful farmland and small-town Americana.  America's longest "rails-to-trail" project, formerly the MKT rail line, is flat and scenic.  It's ideal for hiking, running, or cycling on just about any kind of bike.  Horseback riding  is also allowed on a 35 mile section of the trail, from Sedalia to Clinton.  Also, the Katy Trail's Tebbetts-Portland section now allows equestrian use.  Many cross-country cyclists include the Katy Trail in their tours.  It is part of  Adventure Cycling's Lewis & Clark route , as well as the  American Discovery Trail .   Runners love to use the Katy Trail for Lon

Physically Separated Bike Lanes from STREETFILMS

Physically Separated Bike Lanes from STREETFILMS on Vimeo .

La Fashion Wheel by Peugeot Cycles | In Paris with Marc Beaugé @MrcBg @Peugeot #letside

Provide feedback for Pedal Instead @pedalinstead @yaybikes #letsride

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This year   Pedal Instead  will get a major upgrade. With support anticipated from the Ohio EPA, Yay Bikes! plans to maximize Pedal Instead’s vast (vast!) capacity to educate the general public about bicycling for transportation. To help us better understand how Pedal Instead is currently utilized as a source of bicycle-related information, we have created a short survey. Regardless of how much or little you encountered Pedal Instead during 2014 (heck, regardless of whether you know what Pedal Instead even is), please take a quick minute to fill it out and forward it to the people in your local networks. Thanks a thousand times! [Take the survey]

OUT THERE | Chas on the Pacific Coast

Cycling The Icefields Parkway #letsride

Kona Rove 2015 #letsride @konaworld

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The Rove is a relative anomaly in the drop-bar world. We tap into our cyclocross heritage and touring background to come up with a frame design that lives somewhere in the middle. Not quite a CX race bike and not quite a full-on touring rig, the Rove is a bike designed for riding just about everywhere. We use slightly longer chainstays than our CX race geometry to provide more tire clearance and a little more stability. The rear dropout is drawn with racks and fenders in mind. We chose a SRAM X9 Type 2 rear derailleur to provide an even more rugged drivetrain and while eliminating drivetrain snafus. The 160mm front and rear rotors provide ample stopping power for long descents. Make sure you bring plenty of edibles because the Long Sweet Road just got way sweeter. [Kona]

Ferriots of Fire West Side Adventure Ride 01192015 #letsride #gravel #coffeeoutside

11 cyclists. 31 miles. Temps in the 30's and 40's. Sunny for most of the ride. Seen today - Battelle Darby Metro Park, horse track and training facility, bison, Civil War cemetery, Sasquatch sighting. Coffee outside. Great ride!

Somerset Chupacrabra Gravel Grind 011715 #letsride #gravelgrind #coffeeoutside

27 miles. 3400 ft climbing. 17+ cyclists. A couple of icy roads. One ice rink road. Most everyone fell down at least once. Lunch and coffee outside at the lake. Brian blew up his rear derailleur at the end of the ride. Thanks to Mike for organizing.

Velosolutions Pump Track

Velosolutions Pump Track Aranyaprathet, Thailand from Claudio Caluori on Vimeo . Visit Aranyaprathet in Thailand and it's beautiful people together with Adrien Loron and Claudio Caluori from Velosolutions and see how the asphalt pump track was created.

GRAVEL #letsride

Riding with goats #letsride

Gear Ratios: How to Select Touring Bike Gearing

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You might have heard of the term 'granny gear' before. If you haven't, a granny gear is the smallest cog on the front crankset of your bike. If you haven't already become best friends with it, you may need to start! Your selected gear ratios for a touring bike depend on a number of factors: where you plan to travel, the terrain, your experience, how strong you are as a rider and, of course, how much gear you're lugging around. We recommend picking gears for all occasions, that is, having gears low enough to go up the steepest climbs, and also having gears high enough so you don't 'spin out' when the wind is on your side. The smallest chainring, the granny gear, is often the one you should worry about most. A good guide for touring bikes is to have a granny gear so small that riding in it works out to be the same speed as you walk. You can never have a gear low enough on a touring bike! Part 1: Gear Range and Ratios 1.1 Gear Inches: Understand

GEVENALLE ADDS GX DROP-BAR SHIFTERS FOR SHIMANO 10-SPEED MTB DERAILLEURS | BIKERUMOR

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Ever dreamt of putting a mountain bike drivetrain on your drop bar bike. You know, to create the ultimate adventure bike with wide range gearing and a fast front end? Gevenalle has expanded their line of index-or-friction shifter equipped brake lever with the new GX model, which pulls just the right amount of cable to keep an XT rear derailleur in line with your MTB cassette. It’s compatible with Shimano’s modern clutch-equipped DynaSys and Shadow Plus 10-speed rear derailleurs with a cassette capability up to 36T. That’s a big jump from the 28T max of  their BURD rear derailleur , putting you in the gearing range of  the CX1 group . Like the CX shifters, which work with Gevenalle’s own rear derailleur and other 10-speed  road derailleurs, the GX gets a modified Microshift lever set attached to a Tektro lever bodies…but even those have been heavily customized and improved… Ever since Shimano changed the cable pull between their road and mountain offerings, there hasn

Chillicothe mountain biking club stays active in winter | Chillicothe Gazette

CHILLICOTHE –  The cold weather isn't stopping members of a local mountain biking club from getting out and being active this winter. The Chillicothe Mountain Bike club gathered Saturday afternoon at Great Seal State Park for a ride, and group member Brian Jones said many of those who are involved go to races throughout Ohio. The club rides all year and normally has about 15 members who show up for group rides, Jones said. A Facebook page is the central point of contact for members, while the River's Bend bike shop on West Water Street also has details on upcoming group outings and events, Jones said. [Keep reading at Chillicothe Gazette]

The Ride: Unpaved fun on Banks backroads (photo gallery) @BikePortland

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Great roads await in the hills surrounding the Banks-Vernonia State Trail. (Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland) Once you open yourself up to the possibility of riding unpaved roads, a whole new world awaits. That, to me, is one of the most exciting things about the “gravel riding” revolution. It’s like we just scored a bunch of new places to ride and it came without loss of blood or treasure. On Saturday I joined a group of backroads connoisseurs on a 26-mile loop north and west of the small town of Banks. Many of you likely know Banks as the southern end of the very popular  Banks-Vernonia State Trail . I have  ventured off that path before , but Saturday’s ride took me in intriguing new directions. [Keep reading at BikePortland]

CES 2015: THIS BIKE WHEEL CAN PUSH YOU FOR 60 MILES [VIDEO]

[See more here]

Bremen Upper Loop Gravel Grind 011115 #gravelgrinder

25+ cyclists. Temps in mid 20's to start, lower 30's at end. 29 miles. 3200+ ft climbing. Four goats ran with us for a bit. Lots of dogs on the route. Thanks to Liz Samuelson for leading.  

Mr Jones Watches - The Hour @GraemeObree #letsride

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“I wanted to use words that would instill a sense of value that an hour is a unit of time to be or do or think or act in some way that makes us realise its passing. In a subtle way to instill a sense of mortality that is tempered by an idea of how to occupy this hour that will pass but once.”  Graeme Obree 2010 The Hour was designed with cyclist Graeme Obree, an hour has a special resonance for him as he twice claimed cycling’s prestigious hour record. With the design of this watch Obree reveals a reflective, poetic sensibility: each hour is marked with a different word that holds a special meaning in relation to the passing time - a reminder to us to make the most of each hour that passes. The design of the watch makes discrete visual reference to the bicycle - the aperture through which the words are read is based on the drivetrain of a fixed wheel track bicycle. Each watch comes in a MJW presentation box with a specially commissioned artwork by  Hannah Davies . Inside the

Bikes, Bourbon, & Bluegrass: Cycling the Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Bikes, Bourbon, & Bluegrass: Cycling the Kentucky Bourbon Trail from Gardner Raymond on Vimeo .

Metro Parks officials seek input on Olentangy trail route | Columbus Dispatch

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A plan to extend the Olentangy Greenway Trail through the tiny community of Mount Air is one of three options Metro Parks officials will present at an open house planned for next week. “Each of them has their unique challenges,” said Steve Studenmund, Metro Parks strategic-planning and land-acquisition manager. The open house is scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Highbanks Metro Park nature center, 9466 Columbus Pike. Officials are expecting some resistance, especially among Mount Air residents. The route through that community would run along Rt. 315 where there is limited right-of-way to install a trail. The second route would be difficult to build in terms of access because of the 100-foot bluffs east of the Olentangy River; bridges might need to be designed to support construction equipment. And the third would require one large bridge over the Olentangy and nine more spans across ravines... Read more about the costs at: http://www.dispatch.com/content/

Adventure Cycling Montana - Northern Tier

Carver Titanium Gnarvester @carver_bikes

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[nahr-vuh-ster] noun 1. any of various farm machines for harvesting gnar. Another platform designed by the Surly folks, 29+ combines the superior rollover of 29″ wheels with the flotation and extra suspension of a fatbike. Surly’s Krampus was the test mule that proved 29+’s impressive rollover capability, and now it’s time for the next evolution. The Gnarvester is Carver’s take on the platform, a impressively light and nimble frame that can make full use of ~50mm rims and 29+ tires. Featuring a tapered head tube and sliding dropouts, any steerer tube or rear axle is fair game for the Gnarvester. Wrap it up with a beautiful brushed finish and a frame weight under 4 pounds, and you’re ready to get out there and harvest some gnar! Given the lack of a front derailleur, we opted to spec a SRAM X1 drivetrain in order to provide a decent gear range. Don’t worry…front chainring sizes vary from 26t to 36t so you can pick the gearing to work for yourself and your terrain. Clearan

Yahoo Develops 'Happy Routes' Algorithm for Online Maps | International Business Times

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Researchers used crowd-sourcing to create an algorithm that maps "beautiful, quiet, and happy" routes in London and Boston. Researchers at Yahoo have developed a GPS algorithm that allows users to choose a route  between two points based on beauty rather than the time or distance it takes. The  Shortest Path to Happiness study  carried out by Yahoo Labs in collaboration with  the University of Torino in Italy sought to offer "emotionally pleasant" routes using data  from a crowd-sourcing platform. [Keep reading at International Business Times]

Missouri Rep introduces bill to require bicyclists to hold insurance @mobikefed

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Rep. Craig Redmon of Canton has introduced a bill requiring all bicyclists and non-motor vehicles such as horse-drawn buggies using Missouri state highways to carry liability insurance.  The 2015 Missouri State legislative session is just getting warmed up With bills introduced in each of the past several years to  ban bicycling on state highways , and more recently to remove bicycling from a state transportation funding proposal, the idea of an insurance requirement for bicyclists is not sitting well with Missouri bicyclists.  Whether intended or not, if this bill passes it will have the effect of restricting Missouri bicyclists' access to the roads and routes they need.  [Keep reading at  Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation, Inc.]