BikeRumor.com

For all you fixed gear riders in smooth areas, rejoice, you now have a skinnier tire to match your skinnier jeans.

Fyxation’s new Session 700×23 size tires are now in stock and available on their website. Get it in green, white, pink, orange and black, and they’re all 120tpi with kevlar protection, pinch-flat-toughened sidewalls and a full wrap around tread. Oh, and they come in whitewalls, too, with either brown or black center tread, or colored sidewalls with black center tread. $49.95 each.

Nuvinci / Fallbrook Technologies’ new N360 hub drops size and weight while increasing its gear range over their original model. In the process, they seem to be picking up quite a bit of regular and e-bike OEM placements both here and afar.

Gepida, Mosquito, Raleigh, Victoria, Ellsworth, Breezer and Organic have all spec’d the new N360 on their bikes for 2011. The system will also be available as an aftermarket kit for those wanting to convert their current cruiser or commuter.

The system uses a CVP (continuously variable planetary) transmission that replaces gears with spheres. This gives it an infinite number of ratios between the lowest and highest setting. There is a 360º range of gearing available, which is slightly less than the 409º on Shimano’s new 11-speed Alfine, which relies on individual gears.

The new N360 reduces the amount of shifter rotation required to change the ratio, and it shifts easier under load. For e-bikes, being able to shift when stopped will help reduce power usage by getting into an easier gear for takeoff without having to be moving to change.

Cycle hire availability across London shown on a cool new site.

Thanks to the data released by Transport For London on the locations of the Cycle Scheme docks and bike movements, one clever developer has built this website that gives real-time updates on bicycle availability.

Looking for a bike? Red denotes bike stands that are full. Looking to drop a bike off? Dark blue/purple denotes bike stands that are empty, with the various shades in between indicating degrees of fullness.

The map’s fully scaleable, and there’s a newsfeed ticker, and the blue and red dots are curiously soothing. Mobile phone applications - the logical useful step - may be on their way.

Press Release - August 24, 2010  – Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa today joined cyclists and city officials to unveil the City’s winning bicycle safety awareness slogan and poster.  The poster slogan “Give Me 3” encourages drivers to maintain a 3-foot passing distance when passing bicycles.   “California law currently requires drivers to give a ‘safe passing’ distance, but drivers may not know what safe means. 3-feet is a safe passing distance and will help keep bicyclists out of the door zone,” said Mayor Villaraigosa.

Click ‘more’ to view the rest of the press release.

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The LDN Bike from Biomega, a true "Urban Tool"?

Press Release: Biomega once again combines groundbreaking design with strong urban references and technical features to accommodate modern city lifestyle. The result is two striking city bikes for effective commuting in style, bringing the feel of something unique while moving through the cityscape.

The LDN bike, designed by organic essentialist Ross Lovegrove, and the NYC, designed by Danish design group KiBiSi, both follow the Biomega philosophy of “furniture for urban locomotion”. Classic and honest in their style and function, they meet the specific needs of city dwellers.

Click ‘more’ for the rest of the press release and to see the NYC bike by KiBiSi.

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Nice idea this.  New site www.bikeshd.co.uk is a handy way to see second-hand bikes on sale. It aggregates bike sales from Gumtree and other sites, and displays each as an image tiled in a wall on its front page.

It’s easy to see what’s what and also allows you to search by price. However, the site’s founders also see it as a tool for retrieving stolen bikes. Gumtree in particular is notorious as being a shifting ground for hot property so, if your bike has been nicked, Bikeshd.co.uk gives you an easy way to scan all the used bikes currently on sale, to see if yours is there.

Just got this in from League of American Bicyclists, who have a letter generator on their website here that helps you craft a quick email letter to your state officials.  Here’s the issue:

PRESS RELEASE: Last week, Congress passed a jobs bill that contains a $2.2 billion rescission of transportation funds from state DOTs. In many states, the DOT will likely target bike funding programs to send those dollars back to Washington — unless local advocates speak up and make sure that doesn’t happen.

States must report which program funds are affected by August 25 and the law gives officials maximum flexibility to choose which unobligated balance of funds are rescinded. So we need you to rally the members of Charlotte Area Bicycle Alliance and take action this week!

Funds may be rescinded from the following programs:
• Transportation Enhancements
• Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ)
• Recreational Trails
• State Planning and Research
• Surface Transportation Program
• Metropolitan Planning

The US DOT is urging state DOTs to reach out to stakeholders, which makes this a perfect opportunity to request a meeting to discuss the value of bicycle and pedestrian projects. One request we have of state DOTs is that they follow the “proportionality clause” of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 – this ensures that cuts be made equitably across programs. Be prepared to argue the cost effectiveness and value of these projects. If possible, bring a list of projects that need funding.

As important, make sure your governor gets a flood of calls and e-mails. Alert your members to tell your governor: Don’t let the state DOT disproportionately cut funding for Transportation Enhancements, recreational trails, and bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Let them know we’re paying attention!

Please take a moment to review the attached table, which shows rescissions by state, and mobilize the members of Charlotte Area Bicycle Alliance to keep important funding from slipping away!

If you choose, please feel free to cut and paste or modify this draft alert below.

Thank you for your prompt action,

Jeffrey Miller, President/CEO, Alliance for Biking & Walking

Hawaiian inventor Marty Schlesinger has invented a cruiser style electric bicycle called the Electrickbas. Modeled after “something he’d want to throw a leg over,” he launched Voltage Cycles to create an e-bike with style.

Found via a feature story on KITV4 in Hawaii, they’ve got a non-embeddable video on their site, and Voltage has their own (non-embeddable) video on the bike on their site, too.

Based around a 600W brushless motor in the rear hub (a la Bion-X), the Electrickbas is a power assist bicycle capable of 30mph thanks to the 48volt battery pack hidden in the frame’s retro style “gas tank”. The bikes were inspired by original Indian and other early motorcycles that looked very much like this…which makes sense as they were based on bicycles.  Aaahh, how things have come full circle.

All Voltage Cycles’s bikes are custom made to order and start around $2,000.

Recently Sierra Club member Oliver Bock decided he was going to ride his E-Bike across the US with a few friends in an effort to promote clean and alternative sources of energy. The ride started out in woodside, California and culminated in Washington D.C. where Bock and company met with his Congressional Representative. Brian F., with the Sierra club recently had a chance to sit down and interview Bock about his journey.  It is a pretty fascinating story and definitely worth a read.

Catch the interview after the break.

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This has been on the rumor block for a while now, but we just received this press release and figured we’d pass it along:

PRESS RELEASE: Cannondale, leading brand of Cycling Sports Group (CSG) and part of Dorel Industries (TSX: DII.B, DII.A), will present its brand-new E-series for the first time at the Eurobike 2010. Cannondale has taken an entirely new approach to E-cycling, by setting standards with a number of technical innovations, including a new high-performance drive train that was developed in partnership with Bosch over the past two years to optimize Cannondale’s unique frame technology. The range starts with two Urban models focused on performance, ergonomics and aesthetics.

“Cannondale is relentlessly dedicated to creating the perfect riding experience. By focusing on intuitiveness, ergonomics, performance and aesthetics, the E-series provides consumers with increased mobility and a real car alternative“, said Bob Burbank, General Manager, Cannondale. “By partnering with Bosch to develop a truly visionary drive-train technology and opening up that technology to the industry, we’re paving a new mobility path for consumers and leading the way with a performance focused e-bike.”

SOBI, short for “SOcial BIcycle” is a new take on bike sharing programs that lets a city implement a far reaching program without the usual infrastructure, special bicycles, etc.

The brainchild of Ryan Rzepecki, SOBI works by attaching a mobile/GPS unit and special locking system to any bike, then letting users borrow and return the bike from anywhere they find it and anywhere they need to drop it off.  Because the bikes are equipped with GPS, they can communicate their position and let users find and unlock them using a mobile phone.

SOBI is set to go live with a test in New York City this fall. They’re in the running for a Pepsi Refresh grant (click that link to vote for them) and you can Like them on Facebook if you dig the idea and want to keep up.

Bianchi had some super nice new singlespeeds and fixies at Interbike last year, and it looks like they’re showing a few new goodies early this year.

Shown above is the 2011 Bianchi Pista Dalmine, an aluminum framed bike with flat bar and carbon fork with alloy steerer. The crank has a 48T gear mated to a SRAM Torpedo rear hub (it allows for swapping between free and fixed by turning a bolt).

UPDATE 8/15/10: Initially, the U.S. will only get the Dalmine, and it’ll come with front and rear brakes and retail for $899.99. Dalmine is the name of a well known track located in Dalmine, Italy, that’s not far from the Bianchi factory. Also heard that Bianchi will be showing a few new alloy and steel track frames this fall…drool. Also, the pics are now larger and you can click on them to see full size!

Jump on past the break to see the Pista Sei Giorni…

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Debuting in Europe first, the new Look ALP 464 fixed gear frame shares the geometry of the 496. It gets a carbon, aero fork, large downtube for stiffness and sliding dropouts with metal reinforcements. Frame material is butted aluminum.

BikeBiz reports it’ll be backed by a heavy PR and marketing campaign in the UK and carry a frame/fork retail of £649.99.

PRESS RELEASE: The list of Sponsors and Exhibitors Keeps on Growing By now, the Philadelphia Bike Expo, to be held October 30 and 31, 2010, is an established fact. When  venerable custom bicycle builder Bilenky Cycle Works,  teamed up with the long-time bicycle advocacy group the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP) to present two days of cycling-related activities, the interest was immediate and excitement built quickly.

“The Bike Expo is no longer just an idea or a dream in the minds of a few people,” says Stephen Bilenky, owner of Bilenky Cycle Works, “We have over 30 confirmed exhibitors, and our number of sponsors, keeps on increasing, too. Fuji Bicycles, Cyfac and Urban Outfitters are now included. Check out philabikeexpo.com for the latest.”

In the spirit of its namesake hometown, the City of Brotherly Love, The Philadelphia Bike Expo is an all-embracing celebration to include every sector of bike culture. From Cat 1 to alley cats, fixies, freds, nerds and newbies all will be welcomed and represented.

In addition to exhibition space booked with national and international artisans and manufacturers of bikes, accessories and
apparel, an eclectic schedule of informative panels, workshops, and demonstrations is in place.

There are many ways to get involved. For industry, some exhibitor booths and sponsorship opportunities are still available. Bike shops can host feeder rides, and the Expo is shouting out to the cycling community to participate in the swapmeet, and to join the Expo’s couch-surfing network and extend Philly-style hospitality to those who may be attending from afar.  A model search is on for the fashion show which promises to be a highlight of this action-packed weekend.

Philadelphia Bike Expo will be held Saturday and Sunday October 30 and 31, 2010 at the 23rd Street Armory (22 S. 23rd St. Philadelphia, PA 19103).

Precious, the bicycle, and Janeen, the rider, will be cruising through America on a cross country ride to raise money for Livestrong via Team Fatty. Dreamt up as a promotional stunt by a New York Internet marketing firm to showcase some nifty technology, the Specialized bike will be rigged with all sorts of sensors. As it travels along, those sensors will convey the bike’s feelings via Twitter along with showing real time progress and metrics (speed, distance, wind, roadkill, etc.) on the website, yesiamprecious.com.

As of this posting, Precious and Janeen are sleeping at The Breaks Campground in Haysi, VA.