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Electric bikes selling briskly as gas prices climb
Are these the prius of bikes?
Helpful for people with physical things going on, arthritis, bad back etc.
Two wheels are always better than four.
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(ASSOCIATED PRESS) Over 10,000 electric bikes were sold in France last year, up from 6,000 in 2006, according to the Conseil National des Professions du Cycle, an association of bike professionals.
When Honora Wolfe and her husband moved to the outskirts of Boulder, Colo., she wanted an environmentally friendly way to commute to her job as a bookshop owner in the city.
Wolfe, 60, found her solution about a month ago: an electric bicycle. It gets her to work quickly, is easy on her arthritis and is better for the environment than a car.
"I'm not out to win any races," she said. "I want to get a little fresh air and exercise, and cut my carbon footprint, and spend less money on gas. And where I live, I can ride my bike seven months out of the year."
The surging cost of gasoline and a desire for a greener commute are turning more people to electric bikes as an unconventional form of transportation. They function like a typical two-wheeler but with a battery-powered assist, and bike dealers, riders and experts say they are flying off the racks. Are these the prius of bikes? Helpful for people with physical things going on, arthritis, bad back etc. ... more -
Five ringed bicycle in China
ultimately, we are all residents of the same globe and share one thing in common: the human condition. The games this year have gotten both sides of controversy, but amid all that rumble, this is just a nice story to listen & see and let it sink in nicely.
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very poetic and inspirational. nice ride!
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BBC /Meet Beijing resident Meng Jie, who's cycling around China on a bicycle in the shape of the five Olympic rings.
"I believe the five rings bring the whole world together under the sky"
"Everywhere I go people are interested in the bicycle and gather around it" ultimately, we are all residents of the same globe and share one thing in common: the human condition. The games this year have gotten... more -
'Rideable art" rolling along
Way too pricey for the average me, but aesthetically this is pretty nice to look at. It is always good eye- candy to see the breakthrough design of a frame and its 2 wheels.
'Carbon-fiber components, aerodynamic wheels and pristine paint jobs drive up the price of high-end racing bikes.'
interesting article, though - - - full @ link- - -
PORTLAND — The new status symbol for ardent pedal-pushers: a five-figure ride.Blame seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong for the high-priced bike movement. In addition to boosting the sport's popularity, one of the most enduring of the so-called Lance effects "was to get the people who already rode a high-priced bike to buy a higher-priced bike," said Jay Townley, a partner in a Wisconsin marketing and research firm who studies cycling trends.
Price ceilings have risen with the introduction of more lightweight, sophisticated and aesthetically pleasing cycling components. In turn, many of the high-end bikes have become collector's items, more to lust over than to use for any practical purpose.
River City Bicycles co-owner Mark Ontiveros calls them "rideable art."
"When we go down to our basements or our garages, it makes us as happy as some of the finest art in the world," Ontiveros said. "It's just beauty. And that's why they sell."
The latest masterpiece on display at the River City shop in southeast Portland: a limited-edition, sports-car-inspired Colnago for Ferrari.
"The people driving this high-end business aren't your typical bike commuter," Townley said. "They aren't helping the environment or saving money by buying these high-priced bikes. They're doing it because it's a fashion statement for them within their circle of friends and acquaintances who happen to be other bikeys." Way too pricey for the average me, but aesthetically this is pretty nice to look at. It is always good eye- candy to see the breakthro... more -
Mosaic Touring Bike
Sweet looking ride
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what nice craft!
‹found via BoingBoing›
----- flickr user nathan2480 -----
Fully functional! I've used it for everything from errands to a three week tour from Vermont to Baltimore.
Specs:
-Bianchi Brava
-Original weight: 24 pounds
-With mosaic: 33 pounds
-Took two months to complete
-Mosaic is covered with a coat of West System's 105/206 epoxy to give structural integrity and protect from rain. Finished with a urethane varnish to protect from UV damage.
Yes, this thing is heavy but it can still climb hills and I've hit 40 MPH down hill. Love it, love it, love it! Sweet looking ride - what nice craft! ‹found via BoingBoing› ----- flickr user nathan2480 ----- ... more -
Six Crazy Concept Bikes You'll Never Ride
crazy eye candy
click on link for the rest of the picture set
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There's something about the bike, along with the chair, that draws designers. Despite being an almost perfect design already, the reworkings of the humble bicycle seem almost endless. Some are genuine improvements, such as the change from pedals fixed to the front wheel (Penny Farthing) to a rod or chain driving the rear wheel, and others are less so (low-riders, anyone?)
You wouldn't think that much more could be done to the basic diamond-framed, two-wheeled approach, but those designers can't stop fiddling. Here are some of the fruits of their labors.
---- via WIREDblog ---- crazy eye candy click on link for the rest of the picture set - ... more -
Bike Music Festival VIdeo
Promoting all kinds of goodness - San Francisco
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Bamboo bikes have benefits
The LAtimes had done a wonderufl interview with Craig Calfee in the past, but their archives are only free for a certain time.
Today, The San Francisco Chronicle published a great article about Craig Calfee (his bamboo designs, custom frame bikes and Ghana travles/programs)
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"It is wonderful to work with natural materials that just grows out of the ground"
adjacent post in today's paper about Calfee and 2 other bike makers (here in the Bay Area):
http://current.com/items/89077180_cyclists_favor_handma... The LAtimes had done a wonderufl interview with Craig Calfee in the past, but their archives are only free for a certain time. ... more -
Cyclists prefer handmade bikes
Truly amazing and inspiring (as a bike lover - engineering, sustainability, joy and all the good things riding a bicycle brings to your personal experience).
The San Francisco Chronicle today published a great article about:
1) Craig Calfee (his bamboo designs, custom frame bikes and Ghana travles/programs "It is wonderful to work with natural materials that just grows out of the ground")
2) Mike Ahrens (Ahrens Bicycles, grew up in San Jose riding BMX and dirt bikes)
3) Bernie Mikkelsen (Mikkelsen frames, built primarily with steel material, "Carbon breaks? Throw it out. A steel bike never dies")
The rest of the article is here (all 3 bike makers):
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/0... Truly amazing and inspiring (as a bike lover - engineering, sustainability, joy and all the good things riding a bicycle brings to you... more -
'ONE' Bicycle by Thomas Owens
The latest on foldable bike designs.
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Thomas Owens is a young British product design graduate.
His latest project is a stylish bicycle that not only offers all the benefits of cycling but, with its power system, the user can cruise around with ease.
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When folded, 'One' turns into an amazing compact case free of all dirty and protruding parts. It can be easily carried, stowed and stored. The latest on foldable bike designs. - Thomas Owens is a young British product design graduate. ... more
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