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Sturmey Archer has launched a new website that captures all of the advertisements, manuals, documents and information about their products from 1902 through 2000.
Featuring an entire section about their non-bicycle (ie. motorcycle, lawnmower, etc.) parts, the site will be an ever growing repository of all things internally geared from SA.
URGENT! Proposed budget cuts in both Florida and New York are threatening to close not just trails, but entire State Parks and the offices and departments that run them.
From Gone Riding, a Southeast race promoter based in Ocala, FL, comes word that Senator Charlie Dean is proposing to close the OGT (Office of Greenways and Trails). This is the group that OMBA and others have worked with so successfully to open and maintain many, many miles of cycling paths and trails throughout Central Florida. This isn’t the first time this area has come under threat, but it’s the latest potential victim of the overall crappy economy and ever-shrinking income from things like property and sales tax as consumers make and spend less. (for more, read after the break and this…do this TODAY, FL Senate may vote on this TODAY!)
In New York, two members of the Finger Lakes Mountain Bike Club recently met with state senators in Albany to discuss the recent $70 million cut to the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), which already had had $500 million siphoned from it’s coffers and diverted to other, unrelated programs over the past few years. This cut eliminates money for land acquisition, trail maintenance and trail and park projects. There’s even a proposal to just close state parks (but then where’s the money going to come from to fight the inevitable increase in obesity?)
What You Can Do:
Write your Senators. Links and email addresses for the people involved for these states are after the break. These are just two examples…likely there are similar issues in your state, or there will be soon. Let the people in office know that state parks, trails and outdoor recreational facilities are vitally important to our nation’s health, character and enjoyment. Most parks and recs departments are already cash strapped and running on fumes…tell them to pull funds from other departments or train employees to handle a broader spectrum of work. For example, our local deeds office employees had extra time on their hands with the drop in home sales, so they were trained to handle other duties and now assist with other city and/or county offices. This keeps people employed and makes the most of their time. That, and unpaid two-day furloughs now and then.
NAHBS 2010 - Looking for a mix-n-match wheel size full suspension mountain bike? Kent Eriksen’s got you covered. Shown here is his A.S.K. full suspension bike with Cannondale’s Lefty suspension fork and a Yeti carbon rear triangle that’s running a 650b wheel on the front and standard 26″ rear wheel.
While the Yeti rear end will only work with a 26″, they can also use a long travel Ventana set up and put anything from 26″ to 650b to 29er wheels on there.
The front triangle is titanium and fully custom built to fit you. As shown, it weighs about 21.3lbs and has 3.75″ of travel. The complete bike here costs $9,857.00, and the frame and shock with custom tubesets and build would set you back $3,675.
They also had a sweet mountain bike frame with EBB set up for a Rohloff internally geared hub and rack mounts, plus new colors and seatposts. Check ‘em after the break…
Target launched their Liberty of London line this past Sunday, March 14, and the 26″ Ladies Cruiser is already out of stock online and in stores (theoretically, they may just not have them in yet, but the matching boys and girls bikes are available).
Like the Republic Dutch bike, it’s made of Hi-Ten steel and relies on a rear coaster brake to stop. Beyond that, the similarities mostly end, and unlike the Republic, this one’s *cough* assembled for you by minimum wage, non technically trained folks. Well, actually, in this economy, it could very well be an MBA grad putting it together for you.
Target’s website lists the bike as used to achieve “Fitness Goal: Low Impact Cardiovascular Fitness.” We kid, but seriously, anything that gets more people into and onto bicycles is fine by us…and if that ‘anything’ is a screenprinted floral pattern, who are we to judge. MSRP $169.99 to $199.99.
Kid’s bikes after the break…
Republic, the brand that brought you the fixed/freewheel bike via Urban Outfitters, is now offering a build-your-own Dutch city bike called Plato for just $399.
You can customize the bike by choosing your own paint color and the colors of every accessory to mix and match to your little heart’s content, then order it up and it’ll arrive ready to be assembled. Options include frame paint color and colors for the saddle, grips, chaincase, tires and rear wheel skirt. Fully assembled, it weighs in about 40lbs, which, given that it’s Hi-Ten steel for the frame and fork (what do you expect for $399?), isn’t too shabby for such a big, fully loaded bike. It uses a rear coaster brake and Shimano front hub roller brake to stop, and is only available as a singlespeed.
The Plato comes only in once size, a 47cm, but the seatpost is highly adjustable and fits riders from 5′2″ through 5′11″. It’s fashioned after traditional Dutch bikes and provides an upright and relaxed riding position, and the standard front and rear racks make it a very functional light-duty utility bike.
More pics after the jump…
NAHBS 2010 - Kelly Bedford was showing off his all-new TiComp titanium 29er mountain bike, using one made for U23 World Champion Aleksandra Dawidowicz Polish World Cup Pro Aleksandra Rokita Mooradian as a fine example. Built as shown with SRAM XX and the Rockshox Reba XX 29er fork, it weighed in at 20.5lbs with pedals.
Bedford, who built for Serotta for 20+ years had plenty of other bikes on display, too, yours to see after the break…
Now, if you’re outta breath like the person shooting this video, you should probably rethink hauling a 55lb trailer around behind your bike. But if you’re die hard about being self sufficient or don’t have a ride to the next 24 hour race, this looks pretty nice. Honestly, it’d almost be worth transporting to endurance races just to have a firm place to sleep that’s off the cold, damp ground.
The Midget Bushtrekka trailer has a unit weight capacity of 260 pounds, so apparently it can carry everything but political correctness. Packed up to a 3-foot-8 b 2-foot-9 package when rolling along behind you, it unfolds into a 7-foot by 2-foot-9 tent that can be leveled with 4-inch adjustable jacks.
Check it out at midgetcampers.com.au. Found at BikingBis.com via Bicycledesign.
Make no mistake, I like, nay, covet a Mercedes GLK, but this video is a bit cheesy, and it’s only a teaser. You’ll have to finish watching it on Mercedes-Benz.tv. (Once there, just watch the intro and subsequent hostess…it’ll start automatically. Once it starts, click on Part 2 on the bottom to pick up where this one leaves off. It doesn’t get any less cheesetastic, but there are a few slick moves by the cyclist sure to anger Mercedes drivers everywhere.)
Developed by designer Ralf Kittmann, the HMK 651 Electric “Motorcycle” doesn’t actually have pedals, but it’s minimal shape and size more closely resembles a bicycle than a motorcycle.
The all carbon body takes electronic management well ahead of other e-bikes, using the carbon itself to carry the current, and because it’s lighter, it takes less power to move the bike. The twin wheels (two per axle) use the power to move forward, then capture energy during braking. The designers’ site suggests (based on Google’s translation) that the carbon filaments act as a capacitor, storing the excess energy and inductively charging while the bike is stopped.
Additionally, because the entire body of the bike is carrying an electrical signal, onboard equipment can monitor the condition of the frame and alert the owner of any problems.
Think it’s too far fetched to ever be manufactured? Tell that to the real, actual bike right after the break…
Update: That Raleigh bikes sneak peek we showed yesterday morning is indeed belt drive, and here’s the word from their U.S. marketing guy Brian:
“The bolts are to separate the frame so a belt drive can be used on it. We really like the idea of using Belts for urban bikes and will be expanding our line next year to reflect this. They make a lot of sense, especially when paired up with a Alfine rear hub, for urban commuting. Since it requires no lube, minimal maintenance, and all the other stuff you’ve already read about internals and belt drives.”
It’s not exactly obvious how it connects/disconnects, but sounds good to me.
NAHBS 2010 - Ever wonder what a man who builds frames and components would build and ride himself? Pictured here is Chris King’s personal road bike, and it’s pretty sweet. Sure Cielo makes fairly straightforward frames with few if any frills, but the devil’s in the details, and the closer you look, the sweeter this bike becomes.
Besides the owner’s ride, Cielo had some new colors on display for 2010 and their entry into the Oregon Manifest’s Constructor’s Challenge. Check it all out after the jump…
Sure, Rock Racing’s made some interesting talent-acquisition decisions and is currently relegated to being the fastest amateur team in the world, but when it comes to business, it’s succeeded in getting and keeping attention, which is no small feat. And let’s be honest, their new road bikes are pretty bad ass looking.
Now, Rock & Republic / Rock Racing founder Michael Ball says they’ll be producing a road bike with a belt drive, and we found photos of a fixed-gear bike and some pretty solid looking components on their website, indicating they’re actually taking this whole bike brand thing seriously. No, you couldn’t race a belt drive in a pro race, but then when has appeasing the UCI ever been Ball’s M.O.?
Check out the rest of the goodies after the break…
NAHBS 2010 - Craig Calfee had a number of non-traditional bikes on display to truly illustrate not only the versatility of bamboo, but also his skill as a builder.
The Moulton replica bike was made at the request of a customer and isn’t something he plans to build regularly, but it was pretty ornate. Nothing like a full suspension mini bike made from trees, eh? Then there was his triple-tandem (Trandem?) from bamboo and a 23lb fully built carbon fiber tandem that was positively sick.
See it all after the break…
NAHBS 2010 - Alongside their new Oxford rain cape and sweet white leather bar tape, Brooks showed off several new shades for some of their popular saddles and a reissue by popular demand of the Colt, which has been off the market for six years.
Above, the Brooks Imperial B17 Narrow adds two new colors, Honey and Antique Brown, to the original Black. Hit ‘more’ for the rest of the rich, leathery goodness…
NAHBS 2010 - Bilenky’s booth crew were quite involved in their conversations when I swung by, so I scooped up a bunch of photos, but not lots of info…but the pictures speak volumes. Their tandem won “Best Road Frame” of the show this year!
The red roadie above mated a straightforward front triangle with some curvy stays for a wild looking bike. Built up with a collection of seriously vintage parts, it presents a bit of a mixed package that’s hard not to stare at. Check after the break for closeups of this (you won’t believe the gruppo) and some amazing lugs and brazing work…
