Party on Wheels: Beer Bike Totes Two Kegs and Pizza!!

This is quite possibly the greatest idea ever. Well maybe not, but it's still pretty cool! It's a mobile brewery. You know, on second thought, that seems like a lot of work...

The Beer Bike was designed and created by Hopworks Urban Brewing of Portland, Oregon, has been built on the frame of a cargo bike that carries two kegs and taps, plus a hot pizza storage unit. Impressive, but I can't even imagine pedaling two full kegs of beer around. I mean, those things are heavy.

The bike will be shown off at the upcoming Oregon Manifest handmade bike show."

Product Review Teaser!

Soon, I will be receiving a set of virtual cycling training DVDs for indoor cycling. Global Ride Productions has graciously offered to send me their entire Hawaii series DVD boxed set to review!

From what I have found out so far, these DVDs are quite different from most 'trainer' rides. They travel to exotic locations, have multiple coaching tracks on every DVD, licensed music, and bonus yoga, pilates or strength training sessions designed for cyclists.

Keep Watching!  I will update you as to when the product arrives, how the review is going, and of course I will post a complete product review as soon as possible

**** UPDATE ****
I have recieved the DVDs and I am staerting the review process. There are 3, 1+ hour DVDs, so I am going to do a 3 Part Review. So keep watching for Part 1 coming soon!

Please help me fight multiple sclerosis!

Every hour of every day, someone is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I have a very personal reason for wanting a cure for MS found. Multiple Sclerosis has had a direct impact on my life, and I don't want other families to go through what mine has. My mother passed away in 20002 from Progressive-Relapsing MS.

That's why have I registered for the 2009 Bike MS ride, the Tour de Vine, and that's why I'm asking you to support my fund raising efforts with a tax-deductible donation of any amount, great or small, which helps to make a difference in the lives of people with MS.

Please pledge your support to me today!

Click here to visit my personal page.
I appreciate your support and look forward to letting you know how I do.

From Friday, June 12 through Sunday, June 14, 2009, I will be joining 800+ cyclists who will (hopefully) enjoy various length routes passing through Virginia’s famous wine country and the beautiful landscape of the Blue Ridge Mountains and supported throughout by hundreds of volunteers, in this year's 'Start to Finish MS Bike Ride', better know as The Tour de Vine. Lengths include a 25, 50,75, and 100 mile option for both Saturday and Sunday.

My Goal is to ride the 50 mile route each day.

People living with MS overcome challenges everyday: to walk, to have energy to go to the store, to have the will power not to give up. That is why it is so important to me that I support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and I need your help to turn my goal into a reality.I have accepted the challenge to raise funds in the fight against MS and you can help me get there.

Please pledge your support to me today!

Click here to visit my personal page.

If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/VABBikeEvents?px=6297198&pg=personal&fr_id=10668&s_tafId=104521

If you would like more information about the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, how proceeds from Bike MS are used, or the other ways you can get involved in the fight against MS, please visit nationalmssociety.org

Austin unveils bicycle sharing for city workers

AUSTIN, Texas — A new going green project in Austin, TX involves people power and balance.

The city on Thursday unveiled a bicycle-sharing program for municipal workers who need to travel short distances for meetings or other business.

Austin bought 15 bicycles, at a cost of $256 each, as part of the Climate Protection Program funded by Austin Energy.

City spokeswoman Charlotte Blum says Austin is providing helmets and locks.
Workers can reserve the bicycles via the city's Intranet Web site, then they receive an access code.

The bicycles must be returned to the same location, with six sites available, as part of the city's pilot program to also ease traffic congestion.

Portland, Portland Style: Touring by Bicycle

Matt Furber over at the New York Times has written a pretty good article of cycling in Portland, Ore. Good enough to make me want to take a trip out there just to see if he is correct.

"Careering through streets on a bicycle in Portland, Ore., this time of year can be an easy weekend adventure that mixes showers, sunbursts, cafes and a robust bicycle culture. And equipped with a sturdy rain jacket, booties, fenders and a bike map (a waterproof version that folds to the size of a credit card is handy), visitors can enjoy the city the way locals do."

Check out the rest of the article here

Nude Aussie bicycle riders take to streets of Melbourne for World's Naked Bike Ride

A newly married couple got a wedding picture with a difference when naked cyclists converged on their photo session at State ParliamentHouse on March 15th.

World Naked Bike Ride organiser Heidi Hill said the newlyweds grabbed the chance to get a photo when the cyclists reached the mid-way point of their annual ride yesterday.

“They were having photos taken on the steps of Parliament House and all of a sudden we showed up and they had to have a photos with us,” Ms Hill said.

>>Gallery: the naked ride through Melbourne
>>Gallery: last year’s ride
Warning: both galleries contain nudity

Ms Hill said the naked bike ride through Melbourne’s streets went off without a hitch.
Police accompanied cyclists from Fitzroy to State Parliament and back yesterday, but no arrests were made.

Event participants last week vowed they were prepared to be arrested if police tried to stop them riding nude along Brunsick and Lygon streets.

Police last year told male cyclists to cover up “because men have exposed genitalia”.
Ms Hill said about 50 cyclists who braved the cold yesterday “had a ball” on the hour-long ride.
“We had a couple of people fall off in the wet on the tram tracks, but no one was injured,” Ms Hill said.

“Police were helpful but unobtrusive. They let everyone ride naked.”

Read the rest of the article at the Melbourne-Leader

Six Great Long-Distance Bike Trails Without Cars

Wouldn't it be great if there were long-distance trails specifically for bicycles? Basically -- roads without cars?

Well, there are! A quickly emerging network of abandoned railway lines are being converted by regional governments into superb bike paths. In addition to offering very gentle grades that are ideal for bikes, many of these new trails are satisfying long. The longest rail trail is over 300 miles long, and the longest off-pavement bike trail in the country stretches 2,500 miles. On these bike roads you can cruise along for weeks without ever encountering a car, or worrying about being bumped off the white line by an oblivious motorist. These are not paved roads, but packed gravel or dirt. Many sport spectacular tunnels and bridges courtesy of the former railways. At the same time these trails pass through small towns affording local eateries and rural lodging, as well as the usual camping spots along the way. I tell you, there's nothing like arriving at the soft pillows of a B&B after a long day of pedaling.

Many of these trails did not exist as bike paths even a few years ago. More are being opened every day. There's great effort to sew short sections together into long haul bike-primary paths. Eventually you will be able to cross the country via a series of interconnected car-free roads. In the meantime, the clearinghouse for the latest additions to the bike-road network is the Rail to Trails Conservancy.

But you don't have to wait to enjoy some fantastic overnight tours on roads without cars. Here are six of the longest continuous bike trails in operation right now, in ascending order of length on Kevin Kelly's Website KK.org/cooltools.

Arm powered quadcycle is like a rowing machine with a view

Most of us start out on an exercise plan with good intentions, but let's face it, sitting in a room doing the same repeated motion gets boring pretty fast. I have a rowing machine propped up against my wall, but lately, it gets used mostly as an expensive coat rack.

Cycling is a great alternative that gets you plenty of fresh air and outdoor views, but the exercise is confined mostly to the lower torso and legs. What if we could combine the outdoor fun of cycling with the all over workout of rowing? Well, short of finding the nearest river and launching a kayak, this arm powered quadcycle called The Champiot looks like a great solution.

Instead of pedaling, you create power by thrusting the handlebars back and forth like a rowing machine, and unlike most human powered alternatives to a regular bike, the Champiot is designed for one rider. Manufacturer Ferez Industries makes several versions including some with supplemental electric drive for when you lack the strength to row home. The Champiot Ultra shown here sells for $999.

Ferez Industries, via Treehugger.com

Optibike is the perfect bike for people who hate to bike?!

Biking is a great way to get around, but what if you're lazy? If that's the case, biking isn't that great, what with it demanding physical exertion to work. And who likes exerting themselves physically? (I do, Ido) But if you don't then that's why you might like the Optibike OB1. Powered by a lithium-ion battery, it allows you to sit back and pedal as little as you want, even enjoying a delicious Subway sandwich while riding if you so choose. It also has built-in GPS to ensure that you know where you're going, and a PDA to keep track of your rides. It's the perfect bike for those individuals who would rather be sitting on the couch, doing anything they can to avoid exercise.

Engadget, via Ubergizmo

Ride Anywhere: Pugsley, the Bicycle SUV

A few days officially into Winter for the Northern Hemisphere, and many cyclists are probably thinking about hanging up their cycling helmet for the season. The bicycle is however a very adaptable beastie, than can be ridden in a myriad of conditions, including snow.

One such never-say-die trusty stead is the Pugsley. No doubt named after the chubby child from the Addams Family TV series, this bicycle version is also easily recognised by its sizeable girth, particularly those ginormous 4” tires. These give the bike incredible float over what would otherwise be very awkward terrain.

Article continues: Ride Anywhere: Pugsley, the Bicycle SUV

A Resolution for 2009: Around the World in an Electric Bike

Guim Valls Teruel is almost ready to go. His goal: Travel all 5 continents on an electric bike. The project is called the Electric Bicycle World Tour.

Guim decided to choose this alternative form of personal transportation to promote the use of cleaner energy and the non-reliance on fossil fuel. According to him, one person has never done this before. However, many people can participate in this “one kilometre – one hope” sponsorship program set up by an NGO, by showing solidarity and hence become part of the tour. So why go electric?

Article continues on Treehugger.com: A Resolution for 2009: Around the World in an Electric Bike

A Dog In A Hat...

Dog in a Hat, a book about an American racing in Belgium, reads like the racer — Joe Parkin — was just telling you these epic stories on a ride, up a climb, or at a coffee shop. I guess that Joe’s friends convinced him to write this book after years of hearing his stories, laughing, embellishing them, and imagining themselves what it’s like to race the Hell of the North. Joe did that and more. I expect when you get dropped by Joe, the grumbles are, “yeah drop me on this local hammerhead ride, but he got dropped all over Liege-Bastogne-Liege, whatever … .”

And that’s the beauty of this book and story. It’s not a hero’s journey, but instead a racer’s tale, including drugs, betrayal, crazy stuff. A story about getting flat-ass dropped and waking up in a whorehouse to race again.

Think about the determination it takes us to finish our local Tuesday night world championship and here’s Joe: a stranger in a strangeland, racing with some crazy-ass mofos.

Jeweled Carbon Bikes for Rich Kids , Are You Kidding?

This Christmas, gift your little one a Swarovski bike, and you will never have to explain to them the benefits of outdoor sports. Pinco Pallino, the company which specializes in clothing for high-end babies, has signed a global distribution agreement with De Rosa, marking production of exclusive pieces for the world of cycling, best known by the more experienced connoisseurs. The two models include a “silver” one featured above with Swarovski crystals designed for girls and the “black” one featured below with a “1950” mark on it is meant for boys.

No further information can be had including the price tag and availability. The designer bikes were on display at the cycle and motorcycle exhibition at Milan.

Via: Fashiontimes

Exploding bike lock shows bike thieves who's boss

Bike theft in major cities is a big problem, leaving most folks afraid to leave their rides locked up anywhere out of eye sight for fear of some 'creep' (read as a much stronger term editted for public) coming along with some bolt cutters and snagging your beloved bike. With biking a great, environmentally-friendly alternative to driving and great exercise to boot, we all should want more people to feel up to using their bikes more often.

Enter the exploding bike lock.

The exploding bike lock is pretty self explanatory: it's a bike lock that blows up if you try to cut it instead of opening it properly. It works like anti-theft tags on clothes by spraying a permanent dye everywhere when it's cut, so the potential thief is covered and easily identified. Is it a perfect solution? No, but it's a clever step forward for bike security...

An exercise bike that chills beers makes exercise more appealing...

If you're trying to get yourself to exercise more, you need the proper motivation. Sure, losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle are OK motivations I guess, but I prefer a more tangible incentive: beer. Frosty, cold beer.

That's why this exercise bike would be perfect for me. It's got a heat pump attached to it, so if you drop a beer in and pedal enough, it'll cool it off for you. So you can time your workouts instead of by calories burned or minutes biked but by beers cooled. Once you chill up a six pack, it's time to stop. What a healthy system!

PEGE, via Treehugger

Coker Cycles Unicycle

I'm going to post this for an old friend who I think of often, but never get a chance to really catch up with... Yes that's you Ted...

If you are a bike fan, or you want to try the new experience for the Unicycle? Give the Coker Cycles's V2 Unicycle a try; it features a patented design described as a 'QuadCrown' construction. Coker Cycles uses 48 spokes, the fully dressed V2 weighs less than 20 pounds. Coker has also added enhancements for the unicycles including a touring handlebar. Unicyclists can ride in a variety of ways including freestyle and off-road, with some riders reportedly capable of going approximately 22 miles per hour.

Price: $570 BUY

vel'oh! Luxembourg City Gets a Bike Sharing System

A new bike sharing system, vel'oh!, has been put into action, this time in Luxembourg city, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Europe.

For a city that is quite hilly and has just under 85.000 inhabitants, over 600 long-term subscriptions and 300 short-term ones are not bad going considering it only launched in march this year. If we compare vel’oh! to Barcelona’s Bicing service, we find that in Luxembourg non-residents can also rent the bikes, and which, unlike in other places, are available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

So how does vel’oh! work?

You can simply take a bike from one of the 25 stations (not very many but hopefully they expand soon) located in the center of the city. The stations are approximately never more than 400 meters away from each other and easily accessible. You can subscribe online for a yearly membership (15€) or only for 7 days (1€), using your credit card at the stations. After that, the first 30 minutes are free and every extra hour after that is 1€.

Luxembourg has chosen blue for the bicycles that have been designed for users over the age of 14. It comes with a wide mudguard to protect your trousers and a big shopping basket at the front. Bicycles are of course unisex, come with 3 gears and an adjustable saddle and permanently lit front and back lights. It would be quite interesting to see what the bike sharing systems in each city say about its inhabitants…

We like the way vel’oh! advertises cycling as being kind to your body and the planet. So if you’re every in Luxembourg city, use vel’oh! to get around. More information ::vel’oh!

Cycling-Induced Helmet Hair May Contribute to Climate Change?

photo by Andy Gates

Via Treehugger.com

Bicycling is a great way to get to work without using gasoline or other non-renewable resources. It strengthens the body, bolsters the immune system and adds to the overall well-being of the cyclist, but a new poll shows that some may not be utilizing pedal power for the wrong reasons.

Two Thirds of Women Never CycleAccording to a poll from the United Kingdom, the majority of women, aged 18-34, do not bike at all, and most of the women polled would not bike to work. 58 percent of those women cited the fear of sweaty dishevelment as the major deterrence. 27 percent were worried about helmet hair. Other concerns included lack of shower facilities at the workplace, safety issues, unwilling to carry a change of clothing and inadequate cycling skills. Only two percent of the women polled biked every day.

Read More about the results at TreeHugger.com

Guide To Winter Cycling

I went on a chilly night ride last night, so I feel that this post was quite timely...

With the rain setting in and the temperature dropping, cycling at this time of year can seem like a chore. Soggy shoes, messed up hair and numb fingers are just the tip of the iceberg – but if you make sure you’re prepared for the worst of it, cycling in the winter doesn’t need to be so punishing

New Consumer.com has put together a guide to help you get ready for the onslaught of bad weather, which will help to make your journey far more pleasant

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.