Spinning Wheel Lights Make A Rolling Video Screen

In the darkest corner of the giant Interbike show here at the Sands Convention Center, a small company is showing off the most eye-catching bike lighting system I’ve ever seen -- a bike wheel light that plays full-motion video inside a spinning bicycle wheel.

Monkeylectric, a Bay Area startup, claims to be the first company to use a bank of flashing LEDs to create video using the spin of a bike wheel. Even though I posted about Hokey Spokes about 6 months ago, I've had seen Hokeyspokes for a few years now

Using a bank of battery-powered LEDs mounted to the wheel’s spokes, the system is able to show off cartoonish moving video that’s as bright and colorful as a storefront neon display.
As the wheel spins, the battery-powered LEDs flash on and off, creating the illusion of a man running and jumping; Homer Simpson belching; or a scrolling ticker-tape of words moving across the face of the spinning wheel.

The company currently sells a cool $65 bike-wheel light called the Monkey Light that generates bright neon patterns – but not full-motion video.

On a side note, HokeySpokes cost about half that ($29.95) and have a cleaner design.

The new Monkey Light can be programmed wirelessly and changed on the fly. The video is created on a computer and uploaded to the wheel-mounted Monkey Light. Goldwater says it uses Zigbee, a low-power, low-speed alternative to Bluetooth.

Unfortunately, the system isn’t yet for sale to the public. Xander Hudson, the other co-inventor, says they hope to have a retail version in a few months. For now, the system will be leased for retail and promotional purposes, like conventions and store displays.

Floating Rollers Take Fear Out of Rolling, Something sweet to add to your 'Santa' list

One of the most time-honored challenges for any cyclist is riding a set of rollers through the dead of winter until spring thaw rolls around.

But if Inside Ride has its' way, the days of riding your bike off the rollers and smack into the wall are over.

For about a $1,000, Inside Ride will sell you its E-motion roller system, a cleverly designed set of “floating” rollers that move fore and aft in their frame, allowing the bike and rider a more stable ride than traditional designs. Bikers can throw the bike around as though on the road – sprinting, hammering, no hands even.

“Everyone else restricts you into one spot,” said Troy Tucker, a technical advisor to the company, who rode the rollers while juggling three balls, demonstrating its stability.

“It gives you space to ride,” he added. “It’s a small space, but it let’s you ride your bike.”

Interbike's Baddest Bikes: Time's New Road Rocket; The Talk of the Show

LAS VEGAS – French bike giant Time's brand new carbon road rocket, the RXR UL Team, is the talk of the Interbike show.

Cathing the 'Gotta Have One' bug will likely cost you upwards of $15,000, but what do expect for a bike handmade in France?

This state-of-the-art, top-of-the-line RXR UL is equipped with Campagnolo's Super Record 11 groupset.

Interbike's Baddest Bikes: Independent Fabrication's Cherry Road Bike

LAS VEGAS -- Independent Fabrication's high-end XS road bike is a wonder of titanium, carbon fiber and of all things -- cherry wood.

The XS features titanium lugs, carbon fiber tubes with a cherry wood finish.

Everything IF does is custom, so plan on laying down around $10,000 to $12,000

Interbike's Baddest Bikes: The Bike Batman Would Ride, Ceepo's Viper

LAS VEGAS – The Japanese aerodynamic specialist Ceepo said to hell with UCI rules when it designed and built this new Viper triathlon speed machine.

"If Batman rode a bike, this is the bike he would ride," said the gentleman manning Ceepo's booth.

Ceepo claims the carbon frame is the one of the thinnest in production, at only 26mm in the thickest spot of the down tube -- in reckless violation of UCI regulations.

Slice through the wind on the way home from the bike shop for a mere $8,000.

Interbike's Baddest Bikes: Delta 7's Ascend Latticework Carbon Roadie

Delta 7 Sports' Ascend road bike has definitely caught the bicycles fans' eyes at this year's Interbike 2008 because its distinctive wicker-basket carbon frame.

The bike's frame weighs just 1.8lbs! Thinner than the soup at the Riviera and more see-through than Casino odds, the Ascend's frame is a lattice of carbon fiber that Delta claims is ten times stronger than steel (by weight).

About the price, it will costs you about $12,000.